Wally Buono

Wally Buono (born February 7, 1950) is the head coach, general manager and alternate governor of the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful coaches in league history. As of August 30th, 2008, in his 19th year as a (formerly) head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and (currently) the BC Lions, he amassed a regular season record of 216-106-3, second only to Don Matthews. He also holds the record for first-place finishes with eleven.

Buono's post-season coaching record is 18-13, with four Grey Cup victories in eight appearances. He won the Grey Cup championship in 1992, 1998 and 2001 as head coach of the Stampeders and in 2006 as head coach of the Lions. He won the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL's Coach of the Year three times, in 1992, 1993 and 2006, becoming only the third coach to receive the award that many times. [http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/news_story/?ID=196087]

Early years and playing career

Born in Potenza, Italy in 1950, Buono moved to Canada in 1953 with his family. He became interested in football after playing pick up games as a youth in Montreal-Nord. Soon after, he began playing minor football in Montreal.

Buono attended Idaho State University and was a linebacker for the ISU Bengals. He returned to Canada and played 10 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes as a linebacker and punter, appearing in 152 games. He won a pair of chamionships with the franchise in 1974 and 1977.

Coaching career

Calgary Stampeders

Shortly after his retirement, Buono landed an assistant coaching position with the Montreal Concordes (which the Alouttes had been renamed following a bankruptcy and an ownership change) in 1983. In 1987, he moved to Calgary and worked with the Calgary Stampeders under Larry Kuharich until 1990 when he was hired as head coach by Stampeders president Norman Kwong.

Buono served as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders for thirteen years (1990-2002), amassing a regular season record of 153-79-2, with eight first-place finishes, including five straight from 1992 to 1996, and missing the playoffs only once, in 2002. The Stampeders went to six Grey Cup games under Buono, winning three in 1992, 1998, and 2001, and losing three in 1991, 1995, 1999. He left the franchise as its most winningest coach in terms of victories and championships.

BC Lions

Buono left the Stampeders in 2003 and was hired as head coach and general manager of the BC Lions prior to the 2003 season. In the first five seasons under Buono (2003-2007), the Lions went 62-27-1 in regular season play, with five straight playoff appearances, four straight first-place finishes (2004-2007), and two Grey Cup appearances: a 27-19 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in 2004 and a 25-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in 2006.

tyle

Buono is often credited with developing some of the best CFL quarterbacks of his era, such as Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, Dave Dickenson, and Casey Printers. He is known as one of the best offensive minds in league history.

Since 2003, the Wally Buono Award has been presented as one of the national awards given to CIS players. It is given to a player based on both on an off the field performance.

CFL Coaching Record

External links

* [http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=staff&func=display&staff_id=1 Wally Buono] at BCLions.com