The Calgary Stampeders announced on Wednesday that they have parted ways with Special-teams coordinator and assistant head coach Mark Kilam, Defensive coordinator Brent Monson, and Defensive line coach Juwan Simpson.
Mark Kilam is 45 years old and hails from Lethbridge, Alberta. He was a member of the coaching staff for 20 years 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. Since 2019, he has taken on both Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach duties. He finishes his Calgary coaching career winning three Grey Cup championships.
This season, 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).
Brent Monson is 39 years old and is from Hamilton, Ontario. He was the team’s Defensive Coordinator since 2022. He joined the Stampeders’ coaching in 2010 as the Linebackers/Strength and Conditioning Coach. He took on Defensive Line duties along with Linebackers/Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2011. Monson later became a running backs coach, linebackers coach, and defensive coordinator in 2019. He finishes his Calgary coaching career winning two Grey Cup championships.
Juwan Simpson joined the Stampeders’ coaching staff in 2023 as a defensive line coach. Before Calgary, Simpson was a defensive line coach at Austin High School in Alabama. Next, he became an assistant coach at James Clemens High School in Alabama. In 2022, he was a defensive coordinator at Westminster Christian Academy.
The 40-year-old from Decatur, Alabama, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He signed with the Calgary Stampeders in 2008 and played eight seasons making 396 tackles, 40 tackles on special teams, three interceptions for 23 yards, two pass breakups, 25 sacks, and 8 fumble recoveries in 115 games. He was named a three-time CFL West All-Star (2010, 2012-13), a CFL All-Star in 2010, and a two-time Grey Cup champion (2008, 2014).
