| File:Wally Buono (March 2009).jpg BC Lions GM Wally Buono | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: February 7, 1950 | |
| Place of birth: Potenza, Italy | |
| Career information | |
| No regular season or postseason appearances | |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
.jpg){kind=link}
Pasquale "Wally" Buono[1][2] (born February 7, 1950) is the general manager, vice president of football operations and alternate governor of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful head coaches in league history. He spent 22 years as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions, which is tied for the most seasons coached all-time. On September 19, 2009, Buono became the CFL's all-time winningest coach when his Lions beat the Toronto Argonauts 23-17, giving him 232 regular season victories, passing Don Matthews.[3] He retired with a CFL record 254 regular season wins as head coach.
Buono's post-season coaching record is 22-16, with five Grey Cup victories in nine appearances. He won the Grey Cup championship in 1992, 1998 and 2001 as head coach of the Stampeders and in 2006 and 2011 as head coach of the Lions. He won the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL's Coach of the Year four times, in 1992, 1993, 2006, and 2011, second only to Don Matthews who had five.[4][5]
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 appeared in five Grey Cups between 1972 and 1981, winning two in '74 and '77.
Coaching career[]
Calgary Stampeders[]
Shortly after his retirement, Buono landed an assistant coaching position with the Montreal Concordes (which the Alouettes 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, a 25-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in 2006. His teams went through a slight downturn for the following three seasons, including two that were sub .500. His team returned to prominence in 2011 after they once again finished first in the west division and followed it with a 34-23 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 99th Grey Cup at home.
He announced his resignation as head coach of the Lions on December 5, 2011 to focus on his duties as general manager.[6]
Style[]
Buono is often credited with developing some of the best CFL quarterbacks of his era, such as Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, Dave Dickenson and Travis Lulay. He is known as one of the best offensive minds in league history.
CFL coaching record[]
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
| CGY | 1990 | 11 | 6 | 1 | .639 | 1st in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| CGY | 1991 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 2nd in West Division | 2 | 1 | Lost in Grey Cup | |
| CGY | 1992 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 1st in West Division | 2 | 0 | Won Grey Cup | |
| CGY | 1993 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 | 1st in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| CGY | 1994 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 | 1st in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| CGY | 1995 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 | 1st in North Division | 2 | 1 | Lost in Grey Cup | |
| CGY | 1996 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 1st in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| CGY | 1997 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 2nd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
| CGY | 1998 | 12 | 6 | 0 | .667 | 1st in West Division | 2 | 0 | Won Grey Cup | |
| CGY | 1999 | 12 | 6 | 0 | .667 | 2nd in West Division | 2 | 1 | Lost in Grey Cup | |
| CGY | 2000 | 12 | 5 | 1 | .694 | 1st in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| CGY | 2001 | 8 | 10 | 0 | .444 | 2nd in West Division | 3 | 0 | Won Grey Cup | |
| CGY | 2002 | 6 | 12 | 0 | .333 | 5th in West Division | - | - | ||
| CGY Total | 153 | 79 | 2 | .659 | 8 West Division Championships |
15 | 9 | 3 Grey Cups | ||
| BC | 2003 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 4th in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
| BC | 2004 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 1st in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Grey Cup | |
| BC | 2005 | 12 | 6 | 0 | .667 | 1st in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| BC | 2006 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 1st in West Division | 2 | 0 | Won Grey Cup | |
| BC | 2007 | 14 | 3 | 1 | .806 | 1st in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| BC | 2008 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 3rd in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| BC | 2009 | 8 | 10 | 0 | .444 | 4th in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
| BC | 2010 | 8 | 10 | 0 | .444 | 3rd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
| BC | 2011 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 1st in West Division | 2 | 0 | Won Grey Cup | |
| BC Total | 101 | 60 | 1 | .627 | 5 West Division Championships |
7 | 7 | 2 Grey Cups | ||
| Total | 254 | 139 | 3 | .645 | 13 West Division Championships |
22 | 16 | 5 Grey Cups | ||
Wally Buono Award[]
The Wally Buono Award was established in 2003 by The Saint Bernard Pass Charitable Foundation for the purpose of recognizing Canada's top junior football player. The award is a national award.[7] Recipients must prove their athletic and leadership ability on the field as well as a high level of leadership within their community. The Saint Bernard Pass Charitable Foundation is the Swiss based foundation of Christina Saint Marche. The winners of the award are as follows:
- 2011 – SB Michael Schaper, Vancouver Island Raiders (BCFC/CJFL)[8]
- 2010 – DL Kleevens Jean-Louis, Châteauguay Raiders (QJFL)[9]
- 2009 – RB Andrew Harris, Vancouver Island Raiders (BCFC/CJFL)[10]
- 2008 – WR Cassidy Doneff, Calgary Colts (PFC/CJFL)[11]
- 2007 – RB Tristan Jones, Edmonton Wildcats (PFC/CJFL)[12]
- 2006 – QB Nate Friesen, Winnipeg Rifles (PFC/CJFL)[13]
- 2005 – RB Jeff Halvorson, Posthumous, Okanagan Sun (BCFC/CJFL)[14]
- 2004 – RB Chris Ciezki, Edmonton Huskies (PFC/CJFL)[15]
- 2003 – RB Alan Giacalone, Calgary Colts (PFC/CJFL)[16]
References[]
- ↑ http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Simmons/2004/11/18/720112.html
- ↑ http://www2.canada.com/story.html?id=5061515
- ↑ "Wally's World: Buono becomes all-time leader in coaching wins". TSN.ca. 2009-09-20. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?fid=11942. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
- ↑ The Canadian Press (2007-02-13). "Buono named CFL's coach of the year". TSN.ca. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=196087. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
- ↑ Wally Buono named 2011 Coach of the Year
- ↑ http://www.bclions.com/article/wally-buono-sets-sights-on-new-horizon
- ↑ http://www.slillegard.com/buono/
- ↑ http://bclions.com/article/michael-schaper-receives-2011-wally-buono-award
- ↑ http://monteregieweb.com/popUp+fr+01_300+Raiders__JeanLouis_wins_Wally_Buono_award.html?Print=1&ArticleID=673068
- ↑ http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/sports/story.html?id=3f2dd140-bbe0-4af3-95fa-bb92a3a17af3
- ↑ http://www.bclions.com/article/wally-buono-award-winner-announced
- ↑ http://www.13thman.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32045
- ↑ http://www.universitysport.ca/e/story_detail0605.cfm?id=7439
- ↑ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/wally-buono-marv-levy-vince-lombardi-jr-visit-montreal-the-late-jeff-halvorson-be-honoured-538918.htm
- ↑ http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1876062
- ↑ http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Calgary/2006/06/08/1620687-sun.html
External links[]
- Wally Buono at BCLions.com
- Wally Buono on Twitter
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lary Kuharich |
Calgary Stampeders Head Coaches 1990–2002 |
Succeeded by Jim Barker |
| Preceded by Adam Rita |
BC Lions Head Coaches 2003–2011 |
Succeeded by Mike Benevides |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by Adam Rita |
CFL Coach of the Year 1992–1993 |
Succeeded by Don Matthews |
| Preceded by Adam Rita Don Matthews Steve Buratto Danny Maciocia Marc Trestman |
Grey Cup winning Head Coach 80th Grey Cup, 1992 86th Grey Cup, 1998 89th Grey Cup, 2001 94th Grey Cup, 2006 99th Grey Cup, 2011 |
Succeeded by Ron Lancaster Ron Lancaster Don Matthews Kent Austin Scott Milanovich |
| Preceded by Tom Higgins |
CFL Coach of the Year 2006 |
Succeeded by Kent Austin |
| Preceded by Tom Higgins |
CFL Coach of the Year 2006 |
Succeeded by Kent Austin |
| Preceded by Jim Barker |
CFL Coach of the Year 2011 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| |||||
| ||||||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||