Wally Buono of the Grey Cup-champion B.C. Lions is the Canadian Football League's coach of the year for 2011.

Buono was handed the Annis Stukus Trophy for the fourth time in his 22-year coaching career at a luncheon Friday in Toronto after receiving 45 first-place votes in balloting conducted among 56 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada.

Paul LaPolice of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Kavis Reed of the Edmonton Eskimos were finalists for the award.

Buono's team opened the season 0-5 and dropped six of its first seven games before rallying to finish tied with Edmonton and Calgary for the league's best record at 11-7.

"It's fitting that as we prepare to celebrate the 100th Grey Cup, we bestow this honour on a true leader who has long epitomized what is best about our league," CFL commissioner Mark Cohon said after presenting Buono with the prestigious award.

"Wally Buono's resume as a head coach ensures he will be remembered alongside the legendary names in CFL history and 2011 may have been the pinnacle of his storied career.

"Wally often tells his players that life is seldom easy, and the greatest rewards are those you have to overcome adversity to achieve," Cohon added. "The Lions' success is 2011 is a testament to his philosophy, character and leadership."

B.C. finished first in the West Division after winning the head-to-head series with both Edmonton and Calgary, then dispatched the Eskimos in the conference final 40-23.

The Lions then capped an improbable championship run by downing Winnipeg 34-23 in the Grey Cup game at B.C. Place.

A week later, Buono stepped down as Lions coach to concentrate full-time on being the club's general manager and vice-president of football operations.

Originally posted here:
Buono caps CFL coaching career with league award