Mark Kilam, the newly hired head coach of the Edmonton Elks, grew up in Lethbridge, playing for junior high and high school football teams decked in green and gold — the same colours he wore with the University of Alberta Golden Bears.”
At the U of A, he was coached by legendary Edmonton quarterback Tom Wilkinson.
With his deep Alberta roots and long-standing ties to green and gold, Kilam’s move from Calgary to Edmonton to lead the Elks feels like a natural fit.
He was introduced to the media Monday at Commonwealth Stadium, quickly making a pitch to any CFL players listening.
Kilam joined the rival Stampeders in 2005, became special teams coach in 2010, and was named assistant head coach in 2019. Now, he switches allegiances in the Battle of Alberta to join the Elks.
He had previously been interviewed for the Elks coaching job, but the second time was the charm.
General manager Ed Hervey, hired in November, quickly found the Elks’ new coach. Despite suggesting the search might take time, he called Kilam the clear choice on Monday.
The new head coach of the Elks also spoke directly to the fans
Kilam’s hire closes the door on Jarious Jackson, who served as interim head coach after Chris Jones was let go after losing five straight games to start the 2024 season.
Under Jackson, the Elks finished 7-6 but couldn’t recover from a poor start. He was open about wanting the “interim” tag removed and returning for 2024.
The Elks have not been to the playoffs since 2019.
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