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Joe Faragalli
Date of birth: (1929-04-18)April 18, 1929
Place of birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of death: April 10, 2006(2006-04-10) (aged 76)
Place of death: Narragansett, Rhode Island
Career information
Position(s): G
College: Villanova
NFL Draft: 1954 / Round: 12 / Pick: 138
Organizations
 As coach:
1967–1969
1970–1972
1973
1975
1976
1977–1980
1981–1982
1984
1985
1986
1987
1987–1990
1991
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (OL)
Brown (OL)
Marshall (OC)
Oklahoma State (OL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (OL)
Edmonton Eskimos (OL)
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Cincinnati Bengals (WR/QB)
Houston Oilers (OC)
Buffalo Bills (TE)
Montreal Alouettes
Edmonton Eskimos
Ottawa Rough Riders
Career highlights and awards

Joe Faragalli (April 18, 1929 – April 10, 2006) was a gridiron football player and coach who had most of his success in the Canadian Football League. Faragalli played guard at Villanova University from 1950 to 1953, and was the team captain all four years. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round (138 overall pick) of the 1954 NFL Draft. He served four years in Germany with the United States Army and went on to coach college football in the United States.

Coaching career[]

Known affectionately throughout the CFL as "Papa Joe," Faragalli joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1967 as an offensive coach. In 1981, he became head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and was awarded the Annis Stukus Trophy as Coach of the Year; the team, 2–14 in each of the preceding two seasons, finished with a 9–7 record in 1981.

Faragalli's greatest CFL coaching achievement, in 1987, almost never happened. He began that year as coach of the Montreal Alouettes, but the franchise ceased operations days before the start of the season. After Jackie Parker resigned as Edmonton Eskimos coach two games into the year due to health reasons, Faragalli was hired and led the team to a Grey Cup win against the Toronto Argonauts.

The Eskimos played in the 1990 Grey Cup game under Faragalli, but lost to Winnipeg. He coached the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1991.

During the 1980s, he worked as an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills. His son Mike also coached in the CFL.

Faragalli died in Narragansett, Rhode Island on April 10, 2006, of heart failure eight days before his 77th birthday and approximately one month before his 50th wedding anniversary.

Head coaching record[]

CFL[]

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Result
SSK 1981 9 7 0 .563 4th in West Division Missed Playoffs
SSK 1982 6 9 1 .406 5th in West Division Missed Playoffs
SSK Total 15 16 1 .484 0 West Division
Championships
- - 0 Grey Cups
EDM 1987 9 7 0 .563 2nd in West Division 3 0 Won Grey Cup
EDM 1988 11 7 0 .611 1st in West Division 0 1 Lost in Division Finals
EDM 1989 16 2 0 .889 1st in West Division 0 1 Lost in Division Finals
EDM 1990 10 8 0 .556 2nd in West Division 2 1 Lost Grey Cup
EDM Total 46 24 0 .657 2 West Division
Championships
5 3 1 Grey Cup
OTT 1991 7 7 0 .389 3rd in East Division 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
OTT Total 7 7 0 .389 0 East Division
Championships
0 1 0 Grey Cups
Total 68 51 1 .571 2 West Division
Championships
5 4 1 Grey Cup

References[]

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