CALGARY — Buck Pierce, Mark Kilam and Jason Maas are the finalists for the CFL Coach of the Year award, the league announced Friday.
Pierce guided BC to second place in the West Division and a home playoff game after the Lions opened the season 1-5. BC won nine of its next ten games and hosts Saskatchewan in the West Semi-Final on Saturday.
“Buck has done a remarkable job with the team this year,” Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said in a team release. “After a 1-5 start, he stayed the course, stuck to his process, and led the team to a 2nd-place finish in the West and a home playoff game.”
Kilam led Edmonton to a 13-5 record and first place in the West in his second season with the Elks. Edmonton improved by six wins from a 7-11 finish in 2025, earned its first playoff berth since 2019 and its first home playoff game since 2015. The Elks host the West Final on Nov. 7.
Maas led Montreal to first place in the East Division. The Alouettes host the Eastern Final on Nov. 7.
The finalists were voted on by members of the Football Reporters of Canada. The winner will be recognized during the 2027 CFL Combine in Calgary, from March 11 to 13.