Buono Awarded Annis Stukus Trophy as 2006 Coach of the Year
February 14, 2007 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
Montreal, Quebec (February 13, 2007) - The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced tonight that BC Lions' head coach Wally Buono is the recipient of the Annis Stukus Trophy as the 2006 Coach of the Year. Buono was presented the award at the Scotiabank CFL Coach of the Year Celebration at the Marche Bonsecours in Montreal , Quebec.
The CFL Coach of the Year is annually selected by the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and is awarded to the coach who most demonstrates exceptional leadership, discipline and dedication to excellence during the regular season. The award is named in honour of the late Annis Stukus, who coached the Edmonton Eskimos and the BC Lions and later became a member of the FRC.
This past season Buono led the Lions to their third straight West Division title with a League-best 13-5 record that included a seven-game winning streak. He guided the Lions to their fourth consecutive post-season appearance and had five of his players honoured at the 2006 Rogers CFL Player Awards. The Lions capped-off their season with a Grey Cup victory over the Montreal Alouettes.
Buono, who received 34 of 46 first place votes, becomes only the third head coach in CFL history to win at least three Coach of the Year awards, joining Don Matthews who leads with five (1985, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002) and Jack Gotta who won on three occasions (1972, 1972, 1978). Buono's first two awards came in 1992 and 1993 as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders. He also ranks second all-time amongst CFL head coaches with 202 career victories, trailing Matthews who leads with 231.
First Place Ballots:
Wally Buono BC 34
Doug Berry WPG 8
Michael Clemons TOR 2
Danny Barrett SSK 1
Tom Higgins CGY 1
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- Lions kickoff title defence versus Argos - B.C. Lions
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- Buono Awarded Annis Stukus Trophy as 2006 Coach of the Year - CFL
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