LaPo had bigger role than most folks think

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This article was published 10/02/2012 (5321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Evaluation is a huge part of the job, a part Paul LaPolice prides himself on.

But when the tables are turned, when tasked to provide an honest assessment of his work through his two years on the job as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach, the analysis doesn’t come quite as easy. On Thursday, LaPolice was selected as one of the three finalists for the Annis Stukus Trophy, an honour given to the CFL’s top coach from the past season. Three-time winner Wally Buono (B.C.) and Kavis Reed (Edmonton) are also up for the award, which was voted on by the media.

LaPolice’s nomination was inevitable, given how the 2010 Bombers (4-14 record) transformed into a winning operation (10-8) that bumped Montreal out of the top spot in the East Division and landed an appearance at the 99th Grey Cup.

Though the Bombers had their issues down the stretch heading into the playoffs, the six-win turnaround provides an excellent example of patience rewarded, which is where LaPolice’s self-evaluation begins.

“You have to get better each year. If you don’t get better, somebody (else) will — that’s the first thing that I’ve always concentrated on,” he said, quickly passing credit for the nomination off to various members of the Bombers organization Thursday.

“I think what I’ve grown in is that I’ve been a little more patient, I’ve tried to communicate more with the players as much as possible to make sure we’re all on the same page.”

LaPolice, 41, has played a bigger role in Winnipeg’s turnaround than many give him credit for. By keeping things together after the sudden passing of Richard Harris and letting defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke weave his magic with the defence, LaPolice has shown that he’s developing a better feel for the different aspects of the position.

It wasn’t the case when he started, but LaPolice is letting people do their jobs now. He’s still an admitted micro-manager — sitting down to watch and chart every interception from the 2011 season Thursday morning speaks to this — but his attention to microscopic detail these days is more about self-preservation than anything else.

“When Wally Buono started, how many years ago (22), I’m sure he had a learning curve,” he added. “Everyone has a learning curve.”

The last time the Bombers presented a candidate for coach of the year was in 2006, when Doug Berry led the club to a 9-9 record and into the post-season for the first time since 2003.

The last time Winnipeg coach claimed the honour was in 2001, when Dave Ritchie was recognized for his 14-4 season and a Grey Cup appearance.

LaPolice joined Ritchie’s staff the following year.

“Dave was a little more out there than I (am),” he said. “He was a little bit more involved than you thought. You thought he was just this grumpy guy on the sidelines, but… I learned a lot from Dave.”

LaPolice said there’s no specific coaching style he’s tried to duplicate. Instead, he’s taken something from every coach he’s worked closely with to cobble together his own identity. Getting to this point, he’s lifted a speech from Ritchie, he said, or used samples of information from Pinball Clemons and Ken Miller to help adapt to different situations — on the field and off.

“The players did a tremendous job this year, the coaches did a tremendous job this year — I’ve tried to keep them on the right bus and get them there.”

The coach of the year award will be announced March 2 in Toronto.

EXTRA POINTS: LaPolice, who holds a 14-22 overall record, had little to say about where talks are with GM Joe Mack regarding his contract extension. The coach is entering the final year of a three-year deal… The Bombers were expected to announce a player signing Thursday, but had to renege due to some paperwork issues. Winnipeg still has eight players eligible for free agency next week.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

2011 CFL Coach of the Year Award

The Nominees

Paul LaPolice, Winnipeg (10-8)

In just his second year, he oversaw one of the biggest turnarounds in CFL history, guiding a club that finished 4-14 in 2010 to a six-win improvement in 2011, first-place in the East Division for the first time since 2001 and a spot in the Grey Cup.

Wally Buono, B.C. (11-7)

A three-time winner of the Annis Stukus Trophy (1992, 1993 and 2006), Buono stepped away from the sidelines on top, winning the Grey Cup after the Lions started the season losing six of their first seven games. B.C. won 10 of its last 11 games and finished in first place in the West Division.

Kavis Reed, Edmonton (11-7)

Reed, LaPolice’s former defensive co-ordinator (2010), was a head coaching newbie in 2011, but led his Eskimos to a second place finish in the West Division — a standing that gave Edmonton its first home playoff game in seven years.

Head of the Class

Over the 50-year history of the Annis Stukus Trophy, the voting for the CFL coach of the year has been very kind to Winnipeg. Hard to believe, but the award has found its way onto the Bomber mantle a league-leading seven times. Impressive. Here are the team standings in coach of the year wins:

7 — Winnipeg

6 — Toronto, Hamilton, Calgary

5 — Montreal, Saskatchewan, Ottawa

4 — Edmonton, B.C.

2 — Baltimore

Rare air

Paul LaPolice is hoping to become the sixth Bombers head coach to win the award.

A quick look at previous Winnipeg winners:

Dave Ritchie (2001): Guided the club to a 14-4 record and a Grey Cup berth

Mike Riley (1988, 1990): Won the Grey Cup both years

Cal Murphy (1983, 1984): Lost West Final in ’83; won the whole thing in ’84

Ray Jauch (1980): Dropped the West Final to an Edmonton juggernaut

Bud Grant (1965): Put up an 11-5 record; fell to Hamilton in the Grey Cup