Lions GM and head coach Wally Buono is excited to hit the field at training camp in June

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Wally Buono doesn't know when the day will come that he's had enough of dealing with the rigours associated with being a head football coach.

He only knows it's not now.

That's why the CFL's longest-tenured head coach had no qualms about signing a two-year contract extension with the BC Lions, a deal that keeps him in charge of the team through the 2013 season.

Buono, who is also the general manager, was entering the final year of his current contract after originally joining the club in 2003. The extension effectively answers any questions regarding the 60-year-old's future beyond 2010.

"This would've been my last year," Buono said. "Something I take very seriously is evaluating the year prior and seeing if there's the energy or the emotional commitment. Actually for some reason - and I attribute this to the Olympics - I feel much more excited about this season coming up.

"I think that's a big part of it. You've got to have a little bit of a spark to be able to go out there and do what we do. If there's no spark then you've got really consider whether you should be getting out of it."

The Lions are coming off an 8-10 record and fourth-place finish in the West Division, their only losing season in Buono's seven-year stint with the club.

Still, the off-season acquisitions of linebacker Dennis Haley, defensive tackle Keron Williams, cornerback Davis Sanchez, running back Jamal Robertson and receiver Derick Armstrong along with the prospect of having quarterback Casey Printers for an entire season have Buono optimistic about the new year.

"I'm happy with these kind of guys," Buono said. "I'm happy Casey is back and is anxious and eager to get to training camp. Talking with some of the veterans that are in town, they obviously weren't very pleased about last year and they're happy with what we're doing so I guess there's a greater sense of anticipation.

"The pieces we brought in seem to be fitting quite nicely. And there's a guy like Davis Sanchez who is 36 years old and he's like a kid in a candy store in that he's back home and will play before his family and friends. That kind of enthusiasm rubs off on all of us and you have to have that to go through the long grind of a long season."

But there's also the enthusiasm of a Lions coaching staff that includes such former CFL all-stars as safety Barron Miles and receiver Travis Moore.

"They bring you the perspective of what goes on in the locker-room," Buono said. "These are younger players who have more of a bead as to what's going on and when we've been in meetings we've asked their opinions and they've given us maybe good direction that way.

"The other thing is you can sense a different enthusiasm in the meetings because they're young and impressionable but they're also opinionated so they bring that enthusiasm that you like and it does rub off on you because it's exciting to be around young people, and that's why when you're my age coaching is still exciting. The young generation brings that fire, passion, joy and fun that I think all of us want."

Buono, a native of Potenza, Italy who grew up in Montreal, is entering his 21st season as a CFL head coach and eighth with the Lions. He has missed the playoffs just once as a coach - 2002 with Calgary - and has led his team to top spot in the West Division 12 times.

Buono has also won four Grey Cup titles as a head coach, the last being 2006 with BC. He also was part of two CFL championship teams as a linebacker and punter with the Montreal Alouettes (1974, '77).

The Lions have made the playoffs seven times under his watch, including five consecutive appearances in the West Final and one crossover trip to the East Final.

In 2009, Buono surpassed Don Matthews' 232 victories to become the all-time leader in coaching wins, and has 235 career victories entering the 2010 campaign. Buono is also the Lions' leader in career wins as head coach with 82.

And he's captured the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL's coach of the year three times - in 1992, 1993 and 2006.

Buono doesn't have a timetable regarding how much longer he will coach but says he'll be the first to know when it's time to step aside.

"I've never been a person that's not faced reality," he said. "If I don't see the results, if I see I can't guide a team or if I can't get a team ready to play, if the players aren't responding to me then obviously I've had a good run and it's time to hand the reins over to somebody else.

"I'm not at that point yet...but I've always prided myself in being able to be honest with myself."

 

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