The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce that John Hufnagel, head coach and general manager of the team since 2008, has agreed to a five-year contract extension.
 
Hufnagel enters his fifth season as head coach and GM of the Stampeders and this contract keeps him with the club through the 2016 CFL season.
 
Ken King, president and CEO of the Calgary Flames, announced the news on Thursday at a press conference which detailed the Flames’ majority and controlling interest of the Stampeders.
 
“It was clear during this process that our first order of business needed to be reaching a long-term agreement with John Hufnagel to ensure long-term continuity of football operations,” said King. “The entire ownership group has great respect for what John has accomplished during his four seasons leading the Stampeders.”
 
Last season, Hufnagel joined Bobby Dobbs and Wally Buono as the only Calgary coaches to have guided the Stampeders to the playoffs in each of their first four seasons at the helm. Hufnagel coached the Stampeders to an 11-7 record and a berth in the West Division semifinal. Hufnagel also moved up the Stampeders’ all-time coaching list in 2011 and sits in second place with 47 all-time wins.
 
“I’m very pleased that the Stampeders ownership group feels confident about putting its faith in me for the next five years,” said Hufnagel. “Stamps fans can rest assured that I will continue to do everything possible with our coaching and football operations staff to put a great product on the field every season.”
 
In 2010, Hufnagel’s Stampeders won the West Division with a 13-5 record and, in 2009, the club posted a 10-7-1 record which was tied for the best mark in the West Division.
 
“We’re excited to be able to announce an agreement with John to a long-term extension,” said Lyle Bauer, president and COO of the Stampeders. “We are very fortunate to have him leading our football club for the next five seasons. This is a great day for the Calgary Stampeders organization and its fans.”
 
In his first season, Hufnagel led the Stamps to the sixth Grey Cup title in franchise history with a 22-14 win over the Alouettes in Montreal. He guided the Stamps to a 13-5 regular-season record and a first-place finish in the West Division before defeating the BC Lions in the West final. After posting a 5-4 record through the first half of the season, the Stamps won 10 of their last 11 games, including the last six in a row. In doing so, the Stamps earned their first West Division title since 2000, won their first playoff game since 2001 and their first Grey Cup since 2001.
 
For his work in 2008, Hufnagel was named the CFL’s coach of the year.
 
Hufnagel began his coaching career in 1987 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as a player/coach. In 1990, he became the Stampeders’ offensive coordinator under Buono and helped the club to three Grey Cup games, including a championship in 1992.
 
Following seven seasons with the Stamps, Hufnagel went to the Arena Football League and was head coach/GM of the New Jersey Red Dogs for two seasons. He joined the Cleveland Browns in 1999 and spent two seasons as the team’s quarterbacks coach.
 
Hufnagel was quarterbacks coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2001 and had the same role with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002. Hufnagel spent the 2003 season as quarterbacks coach for the Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots. He then spent three seasons as offensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
 
Hufnagel returned to the Stampeders on Dec. 3, 2007, when he was introduced as head coach/GM.