Tom Higgins Named Coach of the Year
Published on February 26, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
Edmonton, Alberta â The Canadian Football League announced today Tom Higgins, of the Edmonton Eskimos, as the 2003 CFL Coach of the Year (Annis Stukus award). The winner was selected by 22 members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC). Tom Higgins, along with Mike Clemons (Toronto) and Danny Barrett (Saskatchewan), was named as a finalist for the award on February 16.
This is Higgins' second nomination as the CFL's Coach of the Year, and his first win. Just a three-year veteran in the job, he has surpassed all expectations. His career record-to-date stands at 35-19-0 (9-9-0, 2001; 13-5-0, 2002; 13-5-0, 2003), which translates into an impeccable .650 winning percentage. Coach Higgins' team has never finished the regular season without a first place standing in the West Division and has charged to the Grey Cup in two of the past three seasons, including a Championship in 2003.
Name 1st Place Ballots
Tom Higgins, Edm 15
Danny Barrett, Ssk 4
Mike Clemons, Tor 3
Total 22
Tom Higgins and the 2003 Eskimos:
Higgins led his club to the top of a very competitive West Division. The Eskimos ended their regular season campaign with an outstanding 13-5-0 record, good enough for 2nd in the League (just behind Montreal, based on League tie-breaking procedures). The West was wild this past season, and the Division leader changed as many as five times before Edmonton secured the top spot, holding it from Week 13 through Week 19. Edmonton's offence tallied a League high 569 points and their defence allowed a Division low 414 points. The Green and Gold posed a mighty challenge for the opposition all season long, especially at home where they were defeated just once. Edmonton exacted their revenge on Montreal in the 2003 Grey Cup at Taylor Field when Higgins and his crew reached the CFL pinnacle. The Eskimos handed The City of Champions its first Grey Cup since 1993 with a stirring 34-22 victory.
Canadian Football League Stories from February 26, 2004
- Tom Higgins Named Coach of the Year - CFL
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- Renegades sign Dave Donaldson - Ottawa Renegades
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