HUFNAGEL NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR
WINNIPEG — Calgary Stampeders general manager and head coach John Hufnagel has been named the 2014 recipient of the Annis Stukus Trophy, awarded to the Canadian Football League Coach of the Year. Hufnagel was presented with the honour earlier today by CFL President and Chief Operating Officer, Michael Copeland at a luncheon in Winnipeg, Manitoba as part of the CFL’s annual league meetings.
“John Hufnagel’s Stampeders completed one of the greatest seasons in Canadian Football League history with the ultimate prize in Canadian football: a Grey Cup victory”, said Copeland. “Throughout the year, he overcame adversity and put his team in a position to succeed week in and week out. On behalf of our Board of Governors, and our entire league, we congratulate John on this tremendous honour.”
Hufnagel led the Stampeders to their seventh championship in franchise history, their first since 2008; coincidentally the same year Hufnagel originally won the Annis Stukus Trophy.
The Calgary Stampeders showed off their skill as well as tested their team depth in several positions throughout the season. The Stampeders started Bo Levi Mitchell, the league’s youngest starting quarterback, with an offence that had to overcome multiple injuries to key players during the 2014 campaign. Even with these barriers, the Stampeders could not be slowed down, as they continued to run an effective and efficient offence in the CFL; leading the league in points scored, most touchdowns scored and most net yards rushing.
The Calgary Stampeders tied a franchise mark in 2014 with 15 victories, eight of them coming away from McMahon Stadium. After claiming first place in the West, the Stampeders hosted their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Final where they defeated them for the fourth time, sweeping the season series and advancing to the 102nd Grey Cup.
In the championship game in Vancouver, the Stampeders closed out their season in style with a 20-16 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This marked Hufnagel’s second Grey Cup Championship as head coach in his third Grey Cup game.
The CFL Coach of the Year is selected by 65 voting members of the Football Reports of Canada. Hufnagel, the current longest tenured head coach in the CFL received 43 first place votes.
just another day for the the model franchise in the cfl.really the only deserving candidate.
I would have gone with Tom Higgins. I think he did a better job of bringing a team that looked lost back into contention.
What about Chris Jones. he did a heck of a job in Edmonton.
Won't argue that Huff is great coach, but what is the criteria these people are voting on.. Or do they know…
Cory
As Weldon Brown once said, "a no brainer."
Best record, the championship, best team, best coach. Congrats Mr. Huff.
Cory
While both Higgins and Jones did good jobs. This was really no contest. There was only one goal in Calgary and Huff managed the season masterfully. Despite injuries to Mitchell, Cornish, many of their receivers and some key players on defense, Calgary had no sag or lapse anywhere in their season. It was a brilliant coaching job from training camp right through the Grey Cup.
Congrats Coach Huff
As much as I don't like the Calgary football club, I agree that he deserves this award for the last year.
Then again Coach CC has to come up with a much better Plan A …. a n d have Plan B & C in his back pocket!
Go RIDERS!
GpS
I think this award needs to be scrapped in the CFL. Goes to the Grey Cup winning coach 90% of the time.
No brainer.
43 first place votes out of 65 voting members. Looks to me like 22 members should have their membership revoked.
I wonder if he got up early to leave, again, like he has done in the past, prior to the actual award being given out…
Maybe he accepted by cell phone as he hopped on the plane back to Calgary.
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As for Huff getting the award, seems the award is becoming repetitive for whoever wins the Grey Cup is given the award.
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Montreal was almost down and out before mounting a huge comeback… And Edm was completely out the season before, yet came on so strong… doesn't seem right that Huff got it this year…
Kel
Jones should have been eliminated for his disrespect to the Anthem.
Who cares?
Huff dissed Jones in speech and said I would come shake your hand, but I'll just wave.
" Anonymous Cap said… I think this award needs to be scrapped in the CFL. Goes to the Grey Cup winning coach 90% of the time. " It is a very small league, you scratch the 2 or 3 teams a year that were brutal and you are left only a couple of guys, then the guy who's team won the crown becomes a pretty major trump card. If you wanted to make it interesting they would figure out a way to factor in the coach's challenge record & how many penalty yards they gave up (probably the most direct… Read more »
Go Stamps Go !
Not a big fan of huff. He's never even eaten the jigs dinner me boy!
Huff & the entire Stamps organization need to thank Darian for getting hurt. DD stays healthy and its an early exit for the Stamps – again.
A healthy Riders team owns the Stampeders every year, the numbers don't lie
Y'er Welcome
This whole thing is a farce. It should be announced Grey Cup week.