The Edmonton Elks renewed the contract of head coach Mark Kilam through the 2029 season on Wednesday.
“Mark has done an outstanding job coaching this football team,” Elks VP of Football Operations & General Manager Ed Hervey said. “From day one, he brought discipline, resilience, and a clear direction for our players. The progress on the field is a direct reflection of his leadership. We are excited to have him continue to lead our team.”
Mark Kilam is 47 years old and hails from Lethbridge, Alberta. In 2026, the Elks won the Western Division for the first time since 2015 with a 13-5 record. Edmonton’s offense averaged 28.9 points per game, 396.3 yards per game, 285.9 passing yards per game, 127.6 rushing yards per game, 51 touchdowns, and they allowed 34 sacks.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the Edmonton Elks into the future,” Kilam said. “It’s an honor to be the head coach of the Green and Gold, and I want to express my sincerest gratitude to Deb and the entire Thompson Family, Chris Morris, and Ed Hervey for continuing to believe in me and what we are building here. None of this is possible without the hard work and dedication of our coaches, players, and support staff. I am proud of the program we are building, and I believe the best is yet to come.”
Kilam spent 20 years with the Calgary Stampeders beginning in 2005 as a strength and conditioning coach/defensive assistant. In 2007, he was promoted to linebackers/strength and conditioning coach. In 2008, Calgary’s defense allowed the fewest points on their way to winning the 96th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.
In 2010, he moved up to be the team’s special teams coordinator. In 2018, Calgary led the league in punt-return average (12.3 yards) and lowest opponent punt-return average (8.1 yards) when they won the 106th Grey Cup over the Ottawa Redblacks.
In 2019, he took on both special teams coordinator and assistant head coach duties. He finished his Calgary coaching career winning three Grey Cup championships.
In 2024, Calgary’s defense ranked last in allowed rushing yards (2,260), eighth in points allowed (527), net offense yards allowed (6,861), third in passing yards allowed (4,850), tied-seventh in sacks (32), and tied for fourth in interceptions (15).
The Edmonton Elks named Kilam head coach on December 2, 2024. In 2025, Edmonton’s offense averaged 21.9 points per game, 314.7 yards per game, 244 passing yards per game, 98.1 rushing yards per game, 40 touchdowns, and allowed 52 sacks, finishing 7-11 for the season.
