MEDIA RELEASE | Mark Kilam announced as 2026 CFL Coach of the Year Finalist
The 47-year-old led the Elks to a six-win improvement in 2026
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EDMONTON – Fresh off orchestrating an incredible worst-to-first turnaround in the CFL West Division, Elks Head Coach Mark Kilam has been named a finalist for CFL Coach of the Year.
The coach guided the Elks back into the playoffs, earning their first postseason berth since 2019 and clinching their first home playoff game since 2015. Kilam is one of three COTY finalists, with BC's Buck Pierce and Montreal's Jason Maas also earning a nomination.
In his first season leading the Green and Gold, Kilam helped lay the foundation for the team's on-field resurgence. Edmonton finished the 2025 season with a 7-11 record, but won six of their final 11 games and recorded their first winning record at home since 2019. In his second season at the helm, Kilam led the Elks to a West Division best 13-5 record, including an impressive 8-1 home record — with both marks representing the Club's best results since the 2015 season.
Edmonton's turnaround has seen improvements all over the field, with the 2026 Elks scoring 119 more points, allowing 53 fewer points, and winning six more games in comparison to last season.
In two full seasons as the Edmonton Elks head coach, Kilam has compiled a 20-16 regular season record (0.556 win percentage), including a 13-5 record at Commonwealth.
The finalists were voted on by the same 36 local members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) who determined team award winners, as well as 20 national members of the FRC, for a total of 56 votes.
The Coach of the Year will be recognized during the 2027 CFL Combine in Calgary from March 11 to 13. In addition, the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award and the Ted Goveia Football Operations Award will also be presented, allowing the recipients to celebrate with their coaching peers and team leadership during the highlight of the offseason schedule.
EDMONTON ELKS
The Edmonton Elks are proud members of the Canadian Football League, playing their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.
The club, officially renamed the Elks in June of 2021, has a tradition of excellence having won 14 Grey Cup championships (1954-56, 1975, 1978-82, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2015). Since its founding, the club remains focused on providing outstanding football memories for Edmonton and all of Northern Alberta.
Elks Football… Always Edmonton
Michael Arcuri