CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Bombers' Berry among Coach of the Year finalists

Published on January 30, 2007 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release


WINNIPEG, MB - The Canadian Football League announced today that Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Doug Berry is among the three finalists for the 2006 CFL Coach of the Year Award.

Wally Buono of the Grey Cup champion B.C. Lions and Michael (Pinball) Clemons are the other finalists for the award.

Selected by 46 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada, the CFL Coach of the Year award recognizes the commitment and efforts of head coaches across the league, with special honours going to the coach who most demonstrates exceptional leadership, discipline and dedication to excellence during the regular season.

The winner is awarded the Annis Stukus Trophy in honour of the Edmonton Eskimos and B.C. Lions head coach and great CFL ambassador, Annis Stukus. This year's recipient will be announced at the 2007 Scotiabank CFL Coach of the Year Celebration in Montreal at the Marché Bonsecours.

In his first season as a CFL head coach, Doug Berry led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 9-9 record and their first post-season berth since 2003. Berry and the Blue Bombers jumped-out to an early East Division lead in 2006 with a 5-2 record and battled for first place right to the final game of the season, despite suffering key injuries to quarterback Kevin Glenn, slotback Milt Stegall and several of their starting offensive linemen.

"I'm honoured and pleased to be considered for this award," Berry said. "To me it's reflective on what the 2006 Winnipeg Blue Bombers team accomplished. As with all awards, nominees are usually reflective of how well a team did. I'm pleased it's being recognized that the Blue Bombers made progress toward their end goal in 2006."

In his fourth season as B.C. Lions head coach, Wally Buono led the Lions to their third consecutive West Division title. The Lions won seven straight games in 2006, en route to a league-best 13-5 record. Under the guidance of Buono, five B.C. players were honoured at the 2006 Rogers CFL Player Awards, including the League's Outstanding Player Geroy Simon. Buono was awarded Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993 as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders.

Michael (Pinball) Clemons is nominated for Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career after steering the Toronto Argonauts to their fifth-straight playoff appearance. The Argos posted a 10-8 record in 2006, despite a slow start to the season that was influenced by the loss of all-star quarterback and 2005 CFL Outstanding Player Damon Allen to injury. Clemons and the Argos overcame that slow start and played solid defensive football as they clinched second place in the East, narrowly missing their second-straight division title.

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