Terp Offensive Coordinator Up for CFL Coaching Award
1/17/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 17, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Charlie Taaffe, new offensive coordinator for the University of Maryland football team, is one of three finalists for the 2000 Canadian Football League Coach of the Year award. Taaffe, who resigned from the Montreal Alouettes at the end of the 2000 season to take his current post with the Terps, is joined by Wally Buono of the Calgary Stampeders and Dave Ritchie of the Winnepeg Blue Bombers as finalists.
Taaffe was named Coach of the Year in his first season with the Alouettes a year ago, leading the team to a 12-6 record and its first Grey Cup appearance since 1979. Montreal had the second-best scoring offense in the league as it produced 594 points, while it maintained the top scoring defense in the league (379 points allowed).
If he wins the award, he will become the first coach in the history of the CFL to win the honor in each of his first two seasons as a head coach. In those seasons (1999-2000), he led Montreal to a 24-12 record.
Taaffe joined Ralph Friedgen's University of Maryland staff on December 5, 2000. In addition to his duties as offensive coordinator, he will also be coaching the Terrapin's quarterbacks.
