Milanovich, Hufnagel, Benevides up for CFL's top coach

TORONTO -- It has been quite a rookie season for Scott Milanovich.

The first-year head coach led the Toronto Argonauts to a 9-9 record and back into the CFL playoffs in 2012. He capped his season to remember by hoisting the championship trophy over his head after guiding the Argos to victory in the 100th Grey Cup game.

And on Wednesday, Milanovich was named a finalist for the CFL's coach of the year award. He'll be up against John Hufnagel of the Calgary Stampeders and Mike Benevides of the B.C. Lions.

"It was a great year for us and it's a great honour," Milanovich said. "Coach Huff and coach Benevides both had great years to.

"Our organization did a great job, our coaches, our players. Really, the award in my opinion is all about what kind of success you had as an organization. I know they're talking about my name but there's a lot of people who go into that."

Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada. The award winner will be honoured Feb. 28 in Regina.

Toronto made headlines in December 2011, first hiring Milanovich from the Montreal Alouettes before landing quarterback Ricky Ray in a blockbuster trade with the Edmonton Eskimos.

But Ray and the Argos started slowly. The club was 4-4 up to its Labour Day showdown with Hamilton before losing five of its next six contests to stand 7-9 late in the campaign.

-- The Canadian Press

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