Mark Kilam (born April 22, 1979) is a Canadian professional football coach who is the head coach of the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a three-time Grey Cup champion as an assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders, having won in 2008, 2014, and 2018.
| Edmonton Elks | |
 Kilam with the Stampeders in 2024 | |
| Born: | April 22, 1979[1][2] Lethbridge, Alberta |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| University | Alberta Golden Bears |
| High school | Lethbridge Collegiate Institute |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 2005–2009 | Calgary Stampeders (Strength and conditioning coach) |
| 2005–2006 | Calgary Stampeders (Defensive assistant) |
| 2007–2009 | Calgary Stampeders (Linebackers coach) |
| 2010–2024 | Calgary Stampeders (Special teams coordinator) |
| 2019–2024 | Calgary Stampeders (Assistant head coach) |
| 2025–present | Edmonton Elks (Head coach) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Early life
editKilam was born to parents Surender and Jan, both of whom are doctors.[3] He grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta where he attended Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.[4]
University career
editKilam played CIAU football as a linebacker for the Alberta Golden Bears from 1997 to 2001.[4]
Coaching career
editEarly career
editKilam began his coaching career as a defensive assistant coach for the Cochrane High School Cobras from 2002 to 2005 where the team won three provincial high school championships.[5] He also coached for the Southern Alberta All-Star Team in the Provincial Senior Bowl from 2003 to 2005.[4][5]
Calgary Stampeders
editKilam was hired by the Calgary Stampeders for the 2005 season as the strength and conditioning coach.[5] In 2006, he also added the title of defensive quality control coach.[6] In the following season, he was promoted to linebackers coach and served in that capacity for three years.[5] He won his first Grey Cup championship when the Stampeders defeated the Montreal Alouettes in the 96th Grey Cup game in 2008.
On December 8, 2009, Kilam was promoted to special teams coordinator for the Stampeders.[6] He won his first Grey Cup as a coordinator following the team's 102nd Grey Cup victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2014. He won his third Grey Cup when the Stampeders won the 106th Grey Cup in 2018.[4] In 2019, Kilam was given the title of assistant head coach, in addition to his special teams duties.[7]
On October 30, 2024, after the Stampeders missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004, the team announced that they were not retaining Kilam for the 2025 season.[8]
Edmonton Elks
editOn November 30, 2024, it was first reported that Kilam had accepted the position of head coach of the Edmonton Elks.[9] On December 2, 2024, it was officially announced by the Elks that he had been named the 25th head coach in franchise history.[10]
Personal life
editKilam and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters.[5] He is on the board of directors for the Lethbridge Vipers in their bid to join the Canadian Junior Football League.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Cruickshank: Stamps' Kilam embraces coaching career, going deep". Calgary Herald. May 17, 2016.
- ^ @calstampeders (April 22, 2023). "Happy Birthday, Coach Kilam! 🎂" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Mark Kilam is a lifer with Calgary Stampeders as passionate special teams coach". Edmonton Sun. November 22, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Calgary Stampeders assistant coach and L.C.I. grad Mark Kilam brings Grey Cup home". lethbridgenewsnow.com. January 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Mark Kilam". Calgary Stampeders. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "Stamps announce Craig Dickenson's departure". Calgary Stampeders. December 8, 2009.
- ^ "Former Eskimo J.C. Sherritt joins Stampeders as linebackers coach". Calgary Sun. January 28, 2019.
- ^ "Stampeders not bringing back longtime coaches Kilam, Monson". TSN. October 30, 2024.
- ^ "Report: Elks to hire Mark Kilam as head coach". Canadian Football League. November 30, 2024.
- ^ "Elks officially name Mark Kilam head coach". Canadian Football League. December 2, 2024.
- ^ "Vipers football team adds Kilam to board". Lethbridge Herald. July 7, 2021.