Former Cal Coach Leaving Canadian Football League To Pursue College Football 'Opportunities'

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Wally Buono took over as head coach of the Canadian Football League's B.C. Lions on Wednesday following Jeff Tedford's resignation after less than a year on the job.

The 65-year-old Buono served as head coach and general manager for nine seasons, winning Grey Cup titles in 2004 and 2011, before stepping aside in 2012 to focus on the front office.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't a little scared," Buono said. "But I'd also be lying to you if I said I wasn't a little excited. This is not something I considered last year, or something that I had considered back in 2011."

A four-time coach of the year and five-time Grey Cup winner, Buono holds the CFL record for regular-season wins with 254 and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Lions finished third in the West Division with a 7-11 record in their only season under Tedford and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The former University of California coach replaced Mike Benevides, who was fired after three seasons.

"After much consideration, I have elected to exercise an option in my contract and will resign as head coach of the B.C. Lions in order to pursue other opportunities in college football," Tedford said in a statement.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.