Stampeders’ John Hufnagel wins CFL coach of the year in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG – John Hufnagel is the CFL’s coach of the year after leading the Calgary Stampeders to a Grey Cup championship in 2014.

“I’m proud for the players and the organization,” said Hufnagel. “It was a special season.”

Hufnagel was presented with the Annis Stukus Trophy in Winnipeg on Wednesday after finishing the season with a CFL-best 15-3 record.

“We turned the ball over too many times in the losses that we’ve had in the playoffs… we learned a little bit from history and took care of the football,” he said.

This is the second time Hufnagel has received the award. In 2008 he was also named the league’s top coach after guiding Calgary to a Grey Cup championship.

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Tom Higgins of the Montreal Alouettes and Chris Jones of the Edmonton Eskimos were finalists, chosen by a panel of football reporters.

Hufnagel is in his seventh season as head coach and general manager in Calgary.

“It’s a non-playing season, it’s not an off season,” said Hufnagel. “I have a lot of free agents I still need to try to get signed up… there’s a lot of work to be done.”

With files from The Canadian Press