By Joel Gasson

Scott Milanovich wins 2012 CFL Coach of the Year

Feb 28, 2013 | 4:13 PM

As the old saying goes, better late than never.

The CFL handed out the 2012 Coach of the Year award Thursday in Regina in front of a room filled with executives and employees from across the league.

Not surprisingly when all was said and done, the Argonauts Scott Milanovich was named the winner, after guiding Toronto to the Grey Cup in November. He beat out the Lions Mike Benevides and the Stampeders John Hufnagel for the award.

The win caps a wirlwind 2012 for Milanovich. The rookie head coach was named to the job in November of 2011, it wasn't too long after that Toronto made the splash of the off season trading for future hall of fame quarterback Ricky Ray from the Edmonton Eskimos.

“(Ray is) everything I'd hope he would be and more,” said Milanovich. “He's one time and he gets it, his arm strength is better than I thought, his mobility is better than I thought.”

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There was definitely a lot of ups and downs for Milanovich in his first season patrolling the sidelines in Toronto, part way through the season Ray went down with an injury, and the Argos definitely suffered for it. The week Ray returned, he played well and the offense clicked, but they still lost to Winnipeg. It was the following week in Regina where Milanovich thinks the season turned around.

“A lot of people felt we wouldn't come out here, it wasn't real cold, but colder than we were used to,” said Milanovich. “Once we got that one the confidence was just back to where it was before Ricky got hurt and we started rolling.”

The rest they say was history.

As any award winner in a team sport will tell you, there's a whole lot of people who made this happen.

“Can't overestimate the importance of having a relationship with your general manger, and (Jim Barker) and I had that, and have that.”

Milanovich was also quick to thank his whole staff, who he said are a huge part of their success. His former boss, Chicago Bears head coach Mark Trestman got a lot of credit too.

“So many things, x's and o's, as a head coach I take a tonne of organizational , practice plan, how to approach a season, a lot of those things I learned from Mark,” said Milanovich. “I always felt a good grasp on football, but Mark really taught me to be a coach.”

Most importantly though, Milanovich gives his family a lot of love too.

“They were great, they've learned over the years not to tell me what happens in the stands, because I get mad,” he said. “I hadn't even thought about that conversation with my oldest daughter until after the Grey Cup, they hadn't said a word about it and then one Maggie brought it up, it shows how much they do think about that kind of stuff.”

Milanovich credits his family for having a very thick skin, adding that it can be tough for them to have to listen to him being criticized sometimes, but they handle it the best they can.

Milanovich will now forever have his name on the trophy with some of the best this game has ever seen, and he admits it's neat to see.

“I sat there and watched (Wally Buono) win it last year, and the amazing job he did, you don't ever put yourself in their league and first year head coach. We had a good year, I'm honoured to be mentioned with those guys, but I have a lot more work to do.”

So what does Milanovich do for an encore? We'll have to wait and see in 2013.

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