Montreal Alouettes’ head coach Jason Maas’ passion and abilities as a coach were recognized at the Canadian Football League’s awards ceremony held in Vancouver during Grey Cup Week. Maas was tapped as the CFL’s coach of the year as the CFL Coach of the Year for 2024. “It is an honor when you’re nominated,” Jason Maas said during his acceptance speech. “There’s a lot of things that run through your mind. Because, as a head coach there’s a lot of things that you’re responsible for, but at the end of the day, it’s a team and it’s a team sport, and it’s one I love the most. There’s so many people that work so hard throughout the year, and our organization is so well connected from the top all the way throughout. When I think of this award, I think of a lot of people. I love being a part of Montreal and the province of Quebec. We represent it all. It takes everyone in an organization from the end of the Grey Cup to the end of the regular season, and that’s what this is being recognized for.”
In only his second season with the Alouettes Maas took his squad to their first East Division title since the 2012 campaign. The path to the division crown was thanks to a record of 12-5-1. Those dozen victories were the first by Montreal since 2010 and finished with the best record in the CFL for the first time since 2009. Under Maas the Als led the league in quarterback completion percentage (71.3), offensive touchdowns allowed (31) and yards allowed per play (6.32).
“I am extremely proud of Jason,” Alouettes’ GM Danny Maciocia said. “This is an honor that is fully deserved. He has established a winning culture since his arrival with us, and he is largely responsible for our success. Our players appreciate him, and he is respected by all. I am looking forward to working with him for the upcoming season. I have full confidence that we will continue our success.”
When it comes to Maas and Maciocia, that’s a two-way street of respect and love. “There’s only one reason I’m in Montreal,” Maas said while looking at Maciocia. “A good friend who I don’t even consider a friend anymore, I feel like he’s more family me than anybody gave me a chance when I was probably at my lowest in my coaching career. He gave me an opportunity to be a head coach again. And that’s not lost on me, because I know how special it is to be a part of this league and to be a head coach in this league, there’s only nine positions. There’s a lot of great people that can do our jobs. It’s never been lost on me to have one of these jobs. Danny Maciocia gave me another opportunity, and I live every moment of this opportunity wanting to give everything I have to prove you right and to prove the belief you have in me was the right decision.”
Maas Mass earned 30 first-place votes on 56 ballots submitted by members of the Football Reporters of Canada and the CFL’s nine head coaches. He becomes the fifth Alouettes’ head coach to earn the honour as Maas joins Marv Levy (1974), Charlie Taaffe (1999 and 2000), Don Matthews (2002), and Marc Trestman (2009).
