The Green Zone: Mark Kilam named new Edmonton Elks head coach

Q: What does this mean? You have been talked about for a while as a head coaching candidate. Were you waiting for this shot, and how happy are you it has finally come?

A: It’s a privilege and an honor. I couldn’t be happier. I have been through that process six times, and every time you don’t get it you kind of look (inside and ask) what do I need to do to get better? I think that’s a winner’s mindset. You go back and evaluate. I’m going to continue to improve and continue to develop my knowledge in whatever area I need to develop it. When this one all lined up, it literally was what I mentioned in my press conference; it was like the universal aligned and I am where I’m supposed to be.

Q: Was there something that happened between you and (general manager) Ed (Hervey) in the interview process where you walked away and went “I nailed it,”?

A: I don’t know if there was one single moment, but I do know that I felt I was going to interview well. I interviewed with B.C. (Lions) the day before and I felt I interviewed well. I was ready to smash it. I’m game-faced all the time when it comes to that kind of stuff. I felt good going in, and I knew right early in the interview, I knew that when I saw the way they were reacting, (President) Chris (Morris) and Ed, to my long-term vision, short-term vision, how I see things aligning, how do I see a winning football (team), I could see it and then I could feel it. Once they started talking about it with me I knew that we were all aligned, which is rare and it’s really special. That’s what makes me really excited.

Q: You’re very close with Riders head coach Corey Mace. Did you lean on him for advice on how he dealt with his interviews? How much does that core group of you, Ryan Dinwiddie, Mark Mueller, Corey Mace share some ideas and bounce text messages back and forth?

A: Those are my guys. I love those guys. They’re my brothers. I love them. This just tells you 100 per cent I did lean on them going in. Obviously me and Mace interviewed for the same job. He got it. I wanted to pick his brain on it. This is what tells all you need to know about those guys. (Monday), in the most whirlwind of a day in a good way, but just a crazy, crazy day. Yesterday, both those guys texted me, Mason and Din, and said, “Listen, man, if you ever need to lean on anybody you know, hit us up.” That’s who those guys are and what our relationship is. I just love those guys.

"We're gonna commit to playing a certain type of football that the people in this city can believe in." – Head Coach Mark Kilam #AlwaysEdmonton | #GoElks pic.twitter.com/W9gAFjTl5f

— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) December 2, 2024

Q: How important is it to you to reconnect the Elks to the community?

A: We all know we get judged on wins and losses, but a huge part of my interview was we need to make it more than that. It needs to be built on more than that. I had a whole section in my presentation about a community platform. I want to be that guy. I’m already connected to amateur football at every level in this province I’ve gone through, whether I was coaching or playing in it or still have connections in it. I’m connected to the people in there. I made it very clear in my presentation and in my interview that that’s an important, important piece for me. That’s why I addressed the fans in the press conference, because I want them to know that we’re going to go out and we are going to prove it to them and that we can earn their respect back and we could bring them back into the building.

Q: What is going on with the Stampeders that has led to so much success, yet a decline on the field for the product?

That’s a pretty loaded question, but I think that the margin for winning and losing is very small. Things can escalate one way or the other depending on the structure that’s in place and how you go about that on a day-to-day (basis). I have nothing but a lot of positive memories when I was there. So many great moments in time, so many great players, so many great people I work with. My kids basically grew up in that franchise from day one of their lives. It’s tough. I’m on the other side of it now. My focus is on doing everything I can to get this organization going in the right way.

Q: What did it mean to you to have so much unsolicited support from people when your name came up?

A: It meant everything to me. I honestly felt like that was the difference in me getting the job or not getting the job. I love those guys You talk about spending 20 years in one spot, you see guys literally grow from being a boy into a man, getting married, having kids, life after football, and you’re doing references for them, and then you still stay connected to them and you support them when they’re making the transition from player to whatever real-life job they go to. Those relationships are real. I got emotional in the press conference because it meant so much to me. I really felt like that was a difference. It just reaffirmed that the way I’ve gone about things was the right way and I’m going to continue to do that.

Q: What’s going on with Tre Ford?

A: It’s the same as it was yesterday. I know that Ed has reached out. I haven’t had a chance to reach out, but it’s on my to-do list for today so I’m going to reach out to him. This is the fifth interview of the day I’ve done today. So every time I’m in a downtime, I’m trying to just knock off a couple more things on the list. We all know the quarterback is an important position in the CFL. It is for everybody. You know Tre. I want to sit down with him first. I want to sit down with him. I want to look him in the eyes. I wanted to talk to him about his feelings about this place and I wanted him to hear mine. Whatever happens from that, it happens, but I am looking forward to having a conversation with him.

These questions and answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.