Lions Buono nominated for CFL 2011 Coach of the year

After capturing his fifth Grey Cup title as a head coach in 2011, BC Lions VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono will step into the coaching spotlight once more as he was nominated this morning as one of three candidates for the league’s Coach of the Year honour.

The 2011 Coach of the Year nominees were selected by 56 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada, including representation from each CFL market and a national chapter.

Coach Buono will be up against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Paul LaPolice and Edmonton Eskimos Kavis Reed for the Annis Stukus Trophy.

The ceremony is Friday, March 2nd at the 51st Coach of the Year celebration held at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.

His 11 regular season wins last year pushed Buono’s all-time coaching record to 254-139-3 over 22 years.