Alouettes tab Hawkins as Trestman's replacement

Feb 19, 2013 - 5:15 PM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - The Montreal Alouettes named Dan Hawkins the club's 20th head coach on Tuesday.

Hawkins, a former college coach in the United States, replaces Marc Trestman, who left to take the head coaching position with the NFL's Chicago Bears.

"I am delighted to welcome Dan Hawkins to the Alouettes family as our new head coach," said owner Bob Wetenhall. "Dan comes to us with a distinguished coaching career in major US college football. Dan is especially well known in his profession for the contributions he made to the personal lives of his players as beyond just the science of football, he's by nature a teacher and an unusually fine human being."

The 52-year-old Hawkins spent time last winter with the Alouettes as a guest coach, working with the team's coaching staff during the offseason meetings.

"Dan very well understands my three goals for the franchise, to institutionalize the Alouettes in Montreal, to make meaningful contributions to the community we serve and to win football games," Wetenhall added.

Hawkins, who signed a three-year deal, compiled a 112-61-1 record at the collegiate level, including stints with Boise State (2001-05) and Colorado (2006-10).

He led Boise State to four consecutive Western Athletic Conference titles from 2002-05 and wins in the 2002 Humanitarian Bowl and 2003 Fort Worth Bowl.

Hawkins wasted little time filling out his coaching staff. Mike Miller has been named offensive coordinator, a position he held last season with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, while Noel Thorpe will run the defense.