Recipient to be named at Coach of the Year Celebration during 2027 CFL Combine presented by Anytime Fitness

TORONTO (October 30, 2026) – The Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Coach of the Year will come down to the leaders who orchestrated the West’s two best records and the tactician who authored one of the best marks in team history. Edmonton’s Mark Kilam, BC’s Buck Pierce and Montreal’s Jason Maas are finalists for the league’s top coaching honour.

The finalists were voted on by the same 36 local members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) who determined team award winners, as well as 20 national members of the FRC, for a total of 56 votes.

The Coach of the Year will be recognized during the 2027 CFL Combine in Calgary from March 11 to 13. In addition, the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award and the Ted Goveia Football Operations Award will also be presented, allowing the recipients to celebrate with their coaching peers and team leadership during the highlight of the offseason schedule.

COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

MARK KILAM | EDMONTON ELKS
In his second season with the team, Kilam guided the Elks to the West Division title and hosting duties in the Western Final for the first time since 2016. Edmonton finished with a 13-5 record, including an 8-1 mark at home. The team’s stout defence held the opposition to a league-low 437 points (24.3 per game). The Elks led the league in rushing (127.6 yards per game) and time of possession (31:23 per game).

JASON MAAS | MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Maas is a finalist for the third consecutive season after leading Montreal to a league-best 14-4 record. The team joined the 2009 edition of the Alouettes as the only squads in team history to go a perfect 9-0 at home. Montreal set a franchise record, scoring 624 points, while its offence topped the league with 7.53 yards per play. The team allowed a league-low 19 sacks and surrendered the fewest big plays.

BUCK PIERCE | BC LIONS
In his second year at the helm, Pierce again guided the Lions to a second-place finish in the West to earn a home playoff date. On the defensive side, the Lions allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (71.3) and yards per rush (4.4). Offensively, they ranked second in yards per play (7.48), while posting a CFL-best 5.9 yards per rush.