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CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
B.C.'s Buck Pierce, Edmonton's Mark Kilam to meet in their CFL head-coaching debuts
Edmonton Elks general manager Ed Hervey, left, presents new head coach Mark Kilam with a jersey during a press conference in Edmonton on Monday December 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Buck Pierce will make his CFL head-coaching debut in familiar surroundings. Pierce begins his tenure as B.C.'s head coach Saturday night when the Lions host the Edmonton Elks. Pierce, 43, began his CFL career as a quarterback with the Lions (2005-09) — winning a Grey Cup in '06 — before finishing up as a player with the franchise in 2013. Saturday's contest will also be Mark Kilam's first as Edmonton's head coach. Pierce, 43, replaces Rick Campbell, who was fired following the Lions' 9-9 record and early playoff exit in a season Vancouver hosted the Grey Cup. Pierce arrived in B.C. following 10 seasons as an assistant with Winnipeg, helping the Blue Bombers make five straight Grey Cup appearances, winning in 2019 and 2021. 'We've got to continue to grow, continue to teach and we've got to make sure we're able to finish,' Pierce said following B.C.'s 20-19 exhibition loss to Edmonton on Friday night. Kilam, 46, joined Edmonton after 20 seasons as an assistant with the Calgary, including three Grey Cup-winning teams. Kilam, of Lethbridge, Alta., played collegiately at Alberta (1997-2001) as a linebacker and was hired by the Elks after the Stampeders didn't retain him. Edmonton (7-11) finished fourth in the West Division last season and last made the CFL post-season in 2019. The '25 season will be one of change for Edmonton. Since Larry Thompson bought the franchise last August, it has added a new president/CEO (Chris Morris), vice-president of football operations/GM (Ed Hervey) and coaching staff. 'This is a fresh new vibe here,' Kilam said. 'There was a lot of roster turnover, there's been a lot of turnover in the admin side, obviously the coaching staff has been turned over. 'We're the new era of the Double E.' Winnipeg's Mike O'Shea remains the CFL's longest-tenured head coach. The 54-year-old North Bay, Ont., native — twice the league's coach of the year — enters his 11th campaign on the Blue Bombers sidelines and looks to lead the franchise to a sixth straight Grey Cup appearance as this year's championship contest will be held at Princess Auto Stadium in November. Winnipeg has become a model of consistency under O'Shea. After missing the playoffs with a combined 12-24 record during O'Shea's first two seasons, the Bombers have posted double-digit victories the last eight and four consecutive first-place finishes. O'Shea, inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2017, has a 107-69-0 regular-season record. Toronto's Ryan Dinwiddie enters his fifth season with the club. The 44-year-old American has led Argonauts to two Grey Cups (2022, '24), compiling a 46-22 regular-season record. Toronto has finished atop the East Division three times and posted double-digit victories the last three years under Dinwiddie, the CFL's 2023 coach of the year. Scott Milanovich, 52, begins his second season as Hamilton's head coach/offensive co-ordinator. The Ticats (7-11) were fourth in East Division last year, missing the playoffs. This marks Milanovich's seventh CFL regular season as a head coach, having spent time previously with Toronto (2012-16). He has a 50-58-0 regular-season record and was the CFL's coach of the year in 2012, the same year he led the Argos to victory in the 100th Grey Cup at Rogers Centre. Bob Dyce enters his third full season as Ottawa's head coach. He led the Redblacks to 9-8-1 record and third in East Division for its first playoff appearance since 2018 before dropping a 58-38 semifinal decision to Toronto. Dyce, 59, of Winnipeg, has a 17-31-1 record with Saskatchewan (3-6) and Ottawa (14-25-1). He won two Grey Cups as an assistant (2013 with Riders, 2016 with Redblacks). Jason Maas, 52, embarks on his third season as Montreal's head coach. He led the Alouettes to a '23 Grey Cup title and tops in the East Division last season (CFL-best 12-5-1 record) before losing 30-28 to Toronto in the conference final. Maas, the '24 CFL coach of the year, has a 62-45-1 head-coaching record having previously served with Edmonton (2016-19). Dave Dickenson, 52, begins his second season as Calgary's GM and ninth as head coach. The Stampeders (5-12-1) missed the CFL playoffs for the first time since '04. Dickenson has an 84-53-3 regular-season record and led Calgary to an '18 Grey Cup title. Corey Mace, 39, of Port Moody, B.C., returns for a second season as Saskatchewan's head coach after guiding the Riders (9-8-1) to second in West Division. The club opened the playoffs downing B.C. 28-19 before losing 38-22 to Winnipeg in conference final. Mace is a three-time Grey Cup champion as a defensive lineman (2014 with Calgary) and coach (assistant with Stamps in 2018, Toronto in 2022). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
National Post
a day ago
- General
- National Post
B.C.'s Buck Pierce, Edmonton's Mark Kilam to meet in their CFL head-coaching debuts
Article content Buck Pierce will make his CFL head-coaching debut in familiar surroundings. Article content Article content Pierce begins his tenure as B.C.'s head coach Saturday night when the Lions host the Edmonton Elks. Pierce, 43, began his CFL career as a quarterback with the Lions (2005-09) — winning a Grey Cup in 2006 — before finishing up as a player with the franchise in 2013. Article content Saturday's contest will also be Mark Kilam's first as Edmonton's head coach. Article content Pierce, 43, replaces Rick Campbell, who was fired following the Lions' 9-9 record and early playoff exit in a season Vancouver hosted the Grey Cup. Pierce arrived in B.C. following 10 seasons as an assistant with Winnipeg, helping the Blue Bombers make five straight Grey Cup appearances, winning in 2019 and 2021. Article content 'We've got to continue to grow, continue to teach and we've got to make sure we're able to finish,' Pierce said following B.C.'s 20-19 exhibition loss to Edmonton on Friday night. Article content Kilam, 46, joined Edmonton after 20 seasons as an assistant with the Calgary, including three Grey Cup-winning teams. Kilam, of Lethbridge, Alta., played collegiately at Alberta (1997-2001) as a linebacker and was hired by the Elks after the Stampeders didn't retain him. Article content Edmonton (7-11) finished fourth in the West Division last season and last made the CFL post-season in 2019. Article content The '25 season will be one of change for Edmonton. Since Larry Thompson bought the franchise last August, it has added a new president/CEO (Chris Morris), vice-president of football operations/GM (Ed Hervey) and coaching staff. Article content Article content 'This is a fresh new vibe here,' Kilam said. 'There was a lot of roster turnover, there's been a lot of turnover in the admin side, obviously the coaching staff has been turned over. Article content Article content 'We're the new era of the Double E.' Article content Winnipeg's Mike O'Shea remains the CFL's longest-tenured head coach. The 54-year-old North Bay, Ont., native — twice the league's coach of the year — enters his 11th campaign on the Blue Bombers sidelines and looks to lead the franchise to a sixth straight Grey Cup appearance as this year's championship contest will be held at Princess Auto Stadium in November. Article content O'Shea, inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2017, has a 107-69-0 regular-season record.
The Province
a day ago
- Sport
- The Province
B.C.'s Buck Pierce, Edmonton's Mark Kilam to meet in their CFL head-coaching debuts
Former Lions quarterback ready for his closeup as the top dog as Lions prepare for curtain raiser against Edmonton Elks. Published Jun 02, 2025 • 4 minute read Buck Pierce makes his debut as B.C. Lions' new head coach on Saturday. Photo by Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS Buck Pierce will make his CFL head-coaching debut in familiar surroundings. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Pierce begins his tenure as B.C.'s head coach Saturday night when the Lions host the Edmonton Elks. Pierce, 43, began his CFL career as a quarterback with the Lions (2005-09) — winning a Grey Cup in 2006 — before finishing up as a player with the franchise in 2013. Saturday's contest will also be Mark Kilam's first as Edmonton's head coach. Pierce, 43, replaces Rick Campbell, who was fired following the Lions' 9-9 record and early playoff exit in a season Vancouver hosted the Grey Cup. Pierce arrived in B.C. following 10 seasons as an assistant with Winnipeg, helping the Blue Bombers make five straight Grey Cup appearances, winning in 2019 and 2021. 'We've got to continue to grow, continue to teach and we've got to make sure we're able to finish,' Pierce said following B.C.'s 20-19 exhibition loss to Edmonton on Friday night. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kilam, 46, joined Edmonton after 20 seasons as an assistant with the Calgary, including three Grey Cup-winning teams. Kilam, of Lethbridge, Alta., played collegiately at Alberta (1997-2001) as a linebacker and was hired by the Elks after the Stampeders didn't retain him. Edmonton (7-11) finished fourth in the West Division last season and last made the CFL post-season in 2019. The '25 season will be one of change for Edmonton. Since Larry Thompson bought the franchise last August, it has added a new president/CEO (Chris Morris), vice-president of football operations/GM (Ed Hervey) and coaching staff. 'This is a fresh new vibe here,' Kilam said. 'There was a lot of roster turnover, there's been a lot of turnover in the admin side, obviously the coaching staff has been turned over. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We're the new era of the Double E.' Winnipeg's Mike O'Shea remains the CFL's longest-tenured head coach. The 54-year-old North Bay, Ont., native — twice the league's coach of the year — enters his 11th campaign on the Blue Bombers sidelines and looks to lead the franchise to a sixth straight Grey Cup appearance as this year's championship contest will be held at Princess Auto Stadium in November. Winnipeg has become a model of consistency under O'Shea. After missing the playoffs with a combined 12-24 record during O'Shea's first two seasons, the Bombers have posted double-digit victories the last eight and four consecutive first-place finishes. O'Shea, inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2017, has a 107-69-0 regular-season record. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto's Ryan Dinwiddie enters his fifth season with the club. The 44-year-old American has led Argonauts to two Grey Cups (2022, '24), compiling a 46-22 regular-season record. Toronto has finished atop the East Division three times and posted double-digit victories the last three years under Dinwiddie, the CFL's 2023 coach of the year. Scott Milanovich, 52, begins his second season as Hamilton's head coach/offensive co-ordinator. The Ticats (7-11) were fourth in East Division last year, missing the playoffs. This marks Milanovich's seventh CFL regular season as a head coach, having spent time previously with Toronto (2012-16). He has a 50-58-0 regular-season record and was the CFL's coach of the year in 2012, the same year he led the Argos to victory in the 100th Grey Cup at Rogers Centre. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bob Dyce enters his third full season as Ottawa's head coach. He led the Redblacks to 9-8-1 record and third in East Division for its first playoff appearance since 2018 before dropping a 58-38 semifinal decision to Toronto. Dyce, 59, of Winnipeg, has a 17-31-1 record with Saskatchewan (3-6) and Ottawa (14-25-1). He won two Grey Cups as an assistant (2013 with Riders, 2016 with Redblacks). Jason Maas, 52, embarks on his third season as Montreal's head coach. He led the Alouettes to a '23 Grey Cup title and tops in the East Division last season (CFL-best 12-5-1 record) before losing 30-28 to Toronto in the conference final. Maas, the '24 CFL coach of the year, has a 62-45-1 head-coaching record having previously served with Edmonton (2016-19). This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Dave Dickenson, 52, begins his second season as Calgary's GM and ninth as head coach. The Stampeders (5-12-1) missed the CFL playoffs for the first time since '04. Dickenson has an 84-53-3 regular-season record and led Calgary to an '18 Grey Cup title. Corey Mace, 39, of Port Moody, returns for a second season as Saskatchewan's head coach after guiding the Riders (9-8-1) to second in West Division. The club opened the playoffs downing B.C. 28-19 before losing 38-22 to Winnipeg in conference final. Mace is a three-time Grey Cup champion as a defensive lineman (2014 with Calgary) and coach (assistant with Stamps in 2018, Toronto in 2022). Read More Vancouver Canucks Sports Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Whitecaps
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
B.C.‘s Buck Pierce, Edmonton's Mark Kilam to meet in their CFL head-coaching debuts
Buck Pierce will make his CFL head-coaching debut in familiar surroundings. Pierce begins his tenure as B.C.'s head coach Saturday night when the Lions host the Edmonton Elks. Pierce, 43, began his CFL career as a quarterback with the Lions (2005-09) — winning a Grey Cup in '06 — before finishing up as a player with the franchise in 2013.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
B.C. Lions confident QB Nathan Rourke can return to top form
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, left, listens to head coach Buck Pierce during the CFL football team's training camp in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, May 12, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) KAMLOOPS — There's no question heading into the CFL season who'll be the B.C. Lions starting quarterback. Nathan Rourke is back. 'He's got that confidence, he's got that offence,' said wide receiver Keon Hatcher. 'It's his team. Everyone's rallied around him.' That buy-in is essential for Rourke and the Lions as they prepare for the 2025 campaign. The 27-year-old Canadian QB wasn't on the roster to start last season as he worked to find a permanent home in the NFL. Instead, the Lions tapped Vernon Adams Jr., who got the team off to a solid 5-3 record before going down with a knee injury at the beginning of August. Weeks later, Rourke re-signed with B.C., returning to the team where he earned the title of the league's most outstanding Canadian in 2022 following a standout campaign. The homegrown quarterback struggled back in the CFL, going 3-5 while throwing four touchdowns and nine interceptions. B.C. finished the regular season with a 9-9 record and was ousted from the West semifinal by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. After the season wrapped, the club dealt Adams to the Calgary Stampeders. The Lions are all-in on Rourke this season — and head coach Buck Pierce believes he's ready. 'He's played quarterback. He understands his job, he understands his role, he understands what he needs to do,' Pierce said. 'It's not all about him, though, either. It's everybody pulling in the same direction. So, I think it's nice that way, because he's obviously excited to be here from day one and have a full training camp. And that's how every player wants it, right? It's no different than any other year.' Several of Rourke's teammates have expressed confidence in his ability to return to the form he showed in 2022, especially now that the quarterback has had a full training camp with his teammates in Kamloops, B.C. After all, he wears No. 12 — the same number as Tom Brady and several other legends. 'A lot of quarterbacks that wear that number, they're high up on the quarterback list. So that's Nathan Rourke — great leader, great man, great friend," Hatcher said. 'He comes to work every day with his hard hat on. 'And I'm so excited to see what he gets to do this year, stepping back into that role, being fully confident in what he's doing out here. And I don't expect nothing less from 2022 to this season when he's had a full year out there.' For Rourke, one difference in preparing for the coming campaign has been the luxury of time. Instead of rushing to get up to speed like last year, he's been able to learn things in 'bite-sized chunks.' He was also able to spend the off-season connecting with his teammates, as many stayed in Metro Vancouver to train. 'I think what I've tried to do this off-season is create that comfortable feeling by getting to know the guys off the field, making sure we're deepening those relationships,' Rourke said. Training with the Lions' No. 1 was a learning experience for Kieran Poissant. Through countless sessions together, the 24-year-old Canadian receiver developed a thorough understanding of the playbook, figuring out exactly how many steps he needs to take on a given play and the best placement for his hands. There were less tangible lessons, too. '(Rourke's) one of the best pros in the country,' said Poissant, who played his first CFL games last year. 'And as a young guy, when you get an opportunity to work with one of the best pros and just learn how to be a pro, reps aside, it's an amazing opportunity,' Working alongside Rourke this season is veteran QB Jeremiah Masoli, who B.C. signed to a one-year deal in free agency. The 36-year-old American is heading into his 12th CFL season, and Rourke believes he has a lot to share. 'He's been great. He's got a lot of experience being a very good player in this league. It's been a privilege to work with him. He's great in the locker room,' Rourke said. 'I continue to rely on his expertise and his experience and his knowledge and continue to grow from him. So I'm excited that he's here.' The admiration goes both ways. 'I've been very impressed with Nate,' Masoli said. 'His work ethic speaks for itself, but just him as a person, the kind of leader that he is. When he walks out here, man, you can feel it. You can feel his presence. 'And I'm super excited to see how he does this season, especially on this offence. I think it's kind of tailored to fit his game, and he can really take advantage of it.' This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
