Alouettes ink coach Trestman to extension: report
The Montreal Alouettes have locked up head coach Marc Trestman.
A league source requesting anonymity said Wednesday that the Alouettes have signed Trestman to a contract extension and will announce the deal Thursday at a news conference in Montreal.
Trestman, 53, had one year remaining in his original deal with the Alouettes.
The Minneapolis native guided Montreal to a CFL-best 15-3 record in 2009 — setting a club record for most wins in a season. The Alouettes capped their year by downing Saskatchewan 28-27 to capture the Grey Cup in Calgary.
Trestman joined the Alouettes two years ago with no previous CFL coaching experience but an extensive background as an offensive coach in the NFL. He had served as either a quarterbacks coach or offensive co-ordinator with Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Minnesota, San Francisco, Detroit, Arizona, Oakland and Miami before returning to the NCAA ranks in 2005 as the offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Carolina State.
Trestman began his coaching career as a volunteer coach in 1981 at the University of Miami and was named quarterbacks coach in 1983. That year, Bernie Kosar passed for 2,329 yards as the Hurricanes captured the NCAA crown. The following season, Kosar completed 262 passes for 3,642 yards, both school records.
He then went to the NFL in 1985, first as a running backs coach with the Minnesota Vikings. In 1987, he got his first pro job as a quarterbacks coach with Tampa Bay.
The Alouettes hired Trestman on Dec. 18, 2007, and in his first CFL season he guided Montreal to an 11-7 record and a berth in the Grey Cup game. Despite playing the game at Olympic Stadium, Montreal lost a 22-14 decision to the Calgary Stampeders.
Still, Trestman was a finalist for the CFL's coach of the year award, which ultimately went to Calgary's John Hufnagel. Trestman is expected to be a front-runner for the this year's honour.
Trestman came to Montreal with a reputation as an offensive guru and quarterback Anthony Calvillo has flourished under him. Calvillo has been named the CFL's outstanding player in each of the last two seasons.
Trestman has been mentioned as a candidate for the head-coaching vacancy with the NFL's Buffalo Bills and also as a potential candidate for the post in Oakland should Tom Cable be fired this off-season.
Trestman played quarterback at the University of Minnesota for three seasons before transferring as a senior to play quarterback at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Minnesota in 1979 and is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law. He has been a member of the Florida bar since 1983.
Trestman went to training camp with the Vikings in 1978 and 1979 as a defensive back.