Lake Forest, IL (Sports Network) - Marc Trestman was introduced as the new Chicago Bears head coach Thursday and called the position one of the best in all of sports.
Trestman was named the 14th head coach in franchise history on Wednesday.
"The Chicago Bears are unquestionably the most loved and storied franchise in the NFL," Trestman said Thursday at his introductory press conference. "No doubt and without question, a premier job, arguably, one of the best in all of sports."
A long-time NFL assistant, Trestman spent the past five seasons as head coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes and thanked the organization for giving him the chance to lead a team. He was the CFL coach of the year in 2009 and had a 64-34 overall record with Grey Cup titles in 2009 and 2010 with the Alouettes.
Trestman takes over a Bears team that went 10-6 in 2012, but missing the playoffs for the second straight season cost Lovie Smith his job after nine mostly successful years.
"This (is) clearly a franchise that has the highest expectations for its team, where winning consistently is a standard," Trestman remarked. "When you do win consistently, you play for championships on a yearly basis. I confidently embrace it.
"I cannot begin to express how excited I am for the challenges that are ahead."
Prior to his time in the CFL, Trestman was an NFL assistant with the Vikings, Buccaneers, Browns, Vikings, 49ers, Lions, Cardinals, Raiders and Dolphins. He is known for molding successful quarterbacks.
"We will have a locker room where there are two core values," he added. "You have to really love football and you have to be hard-working.
"My role is simple and exciting. I want to help everyone in that locker room master their craft and I'm asking for nothing in return but their best effort."
The Bears made the playoffs just three times in nine seasons under Smith, losing in the Super Bowl to Indianapolis after the 2006 campaign and reaching the NFC title game following the 2010 season.
