Edmonton’s Mark Kilam, B.C.’s Buck Pierce to meet in their CFL head-coaching debuts
Global News
Kilam, 46, joined Edmonton after 20 seasons as an assistant with the Calgary, including three Grey Cup-winning teams.
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.
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