Music: {allcanada} ARGONAUTS' BARKER NAMED CFL COACH OF THE YEAR

VANCOUVER - Seeing who would present him with the CFL coach-of-the-award trophy meant as much to Jim Barker as winning the honour itself.

The Toronto Argonaut coach was surprised when veteran receiver Jeremaine Copeland walked on the stage Friday afternoon to hand Barker the Annis Stukus Trophy.

"To see him come out, it's rare you have a player that special to you," said an emotional Barker. "We have been through great things and tough things.

"To have him present the award, I can't put it into words."

Barker has been lauded for turning around an Argonaut team that had floundered in mediocrity and taking them to within one game of going to the Grey Cup. But the Pasadena, Calif., native said the real credit goes to the players who did the job on the field and a front office that supported him.

"We had an incredible group of young men this year that bought into a philosophy, that understood the importance of being something bigger than themselves," said Barker. "To all of them that bled and sweat for our club, I thank you.

"It's an organizational award. It's validation that the things we are doing are correct and I'm excited for our coaching staff, our players and our front office. The Toronto Argonauts are special and we need to continue moving in that direction."

Copeland, who has won three titles in two leagues with Barker, said the coach's influence on the team can't be underestimated.

"Barker made everybody believe it's possible to win," said Copeland. "All it really took was somebody believing in the players.

"He brought the right leadership, he brought the right guys in, the right coaches, everything that was needed to turn the organization around."

Barker was selected for the award by 49 voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada. He received 35 total votes.

Also nominated this year was Marc Trestman of the Montreal Alouettes and Ken Miller of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

This is the third consecutive year Trestman, last year's winner, and Miller have been finalists for the award.

Barker helped transform an Argonaut team that had a combined seven wins the previous two years. With Barker on the sidelines, and a CFL rookie quarterback running the offence, Toronto managed a 9-9 record to finish third in the East Division.

The Argonauts upset Hamilton 16-13 in the East semifinal before losing 48-17 to Montreal in the conference final.

Barker said last season was just a starting point for the Argonauts.

"We are in this business to win Grey Cups," he said. "There is nobody fooled by that.

"That's the goal, to win Grey Cups."

Miller, who has retired as the Rider coach, praised what Barker accomplished.

"That was one of the biggest turnarounds we have had recently," said Miller, who is now Saskatchewan's vice-president of football operations. "To take a team that was wallowing in misery, and for him to go in and put a steadying hand on, that really made them more than competitive.

"They continued to improve and grow and play better as the season went on."

Trestman said Barker brought focus to the Argos.

"It was a team that played hard every week and played to its strengths," he said. "That's well deserved."

Barker has spent more than 30 years coaching football, including U.S. college and the XFL.

He had head coaching jobs in the CFL with Calgary in 2003 and Toronto in 1999. He was an assistant coach with the Argos when they won the 1997 Grey Cup and Montreal's offensive co-ordinator when the Als won the championships in 2002.

Copeland was a member of the Los Angeles Extreme team Barker coached to the 2001 XFL championship. He played for Montreal in 2002 and was part of the 2008 Calgary team that won the Grey Cup with Barker as director of player personnel.

When Barker was named Toronto coach in 1999, he flew his mother, Nancy, to the news conference. It was in keeping with a promise Barker made to her when he got into coaching that she would be present the day he officially began his first stint as a head coach.

Barker's 80-year-old mother, and two brothers, were in the audience again Friday.

"They made a special day perfect," said Barker.

He also made thanked Hall of Fame coach Don Matthews for teaching him how to be a professional coach.

"Don was loved by many, hated by most," Barker said, getting a laugh from the crowd. "He taught me what it takes to win in this league.

"I can tell you I am very proud to be considered a Don Matthews protege."

Matthews was the last Toronto coach to win the Annis Stukus trophy back in 1997. Barker joins Adam Rita (1991), Bob O'Billovich (1982 and 1987) and Leo Cahill (1971), as the other Argo coaches to win the award.