Higgins named CFL coach of year

Tom Higgins was recognized Thursday for his outstanding 2003 CFL season by being named the league's coach of the year.

Higgins led the Eskimos to a brilliant campaign that culminated in a 34-22 win over the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup last November in Regina.

Edmonton went 13-5-0 to finish first in the West Division en route to capturing its first Grey Cup title since 1993.

"It's been an unbelievable story," Higgins said of his season. "It was quite a trip. I hope we can continue to have the hunger to do it all over again."

Higgins beat out fellow nominees Danny Barrett of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Mike (Pinball) Clemons of the Toronto Argonauts in voting conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada.

Since taking over the head coach's job in 2001, Higgins led the club to a 35-19-0-1 regular-season record, three straight first-place finishes in the West and consecutive Grey Cup final appearances.

Higgins was also up for the award last year but lost out to Alouettes coach Don Matthews, who wasn't nominated this year.