Wally Buono is staying on as both head coach and general manager of the B.C. Lions, the CFL club said Tuesday.
There had been speculation Buono may give up the coaching duties and concentrate on being GM, but the announcement of his return was made during a news conference.
The Lions started this season with a 1-7 record. It was the worst start in Buono's 21-year coaching career. Some critics suggested he had lost his touch and couldn't communicate with the young players.
The team turned around the season, finished 8-10, and claimed third place in the West to make the playoffs. The Lions lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in overtime of the CFL West semifinal.
"Having had time to stand back and evaluate where we were as a team and an organization at the beginning of the 2010 season and seeing how far we have come, I believe it's in the best interest of our players and coaches to maintain stability and consistency in all areas," Buono said in a statement.
Buono has 243 regular season victories, more than any other CFL coach. The former Montreal Alouettes player spent 13 years coaching the Calgary Stampeders before coming to Vancouver in 2003.
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