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Wally Buono

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{{Infobox CFL player 

|Name=Wally Buono
|full_name=
|team=BC Lions
|Image=Wally Buono (March 2009).jpg
|ImageWidth= 200
|Caption=BC Lions GM Wally Buono
|status=
|position1=HC
|DateOfBirth= (1950-02-07) February 7, 1950 (age 74)
|Birthplace=[[kingston,ontario
|College=Idaho State University
|high_school=
|coaching_years=1983
1987–1989
1990–2002
2003–present
|coaching_teams=Montreal Concordes (AC)
Calgary Stampeders (AC)
Calgary Stampeders
BC Lions
|playing_years=1973–1982
|playing_teams=Montreal Alouettes
|career_highlights=
|Awards= Annis Stukus Trophy (1992, 1993, 2006)
|Honours= 6x Grey Cup champion – (1974, 1977, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2006)
|Records= 235–120–3

}} Wally Buono (born February 7, 1950) is the head coach, general manager and alternate governor of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful coaches in league history. He is in his 19th year as a (former) head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and (current) the BC Lions. On September 19th, 2009, Buono became the CFL's all-time winningest coach when his Lions beat the Toronto Argos 23-17, giving him 232 regular season victories, passing Don Matthews.[1]

Buono's post-season coaching record is 19-14, 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.[2]

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 championships 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.

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 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

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 1991-2002 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 - - TBD
BC Total 2003-Present 82 43 1 .655 4 West Division
Championships		 4 5 1 Grey Cup
Total 1991-Present 235 122 3 .657 12 West Division
Championships		 19 14 4 Grey Cup

References

  1. ^ "Wally's World: Buono becomes all-time leader in coaching wins". TSN.ca. 2009-09-20. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  2. ^ The Canadian Press (2007-02-13). "Buono named CFL's coach of the year". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Calgary Stampeders Head Coaches
1990–2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by BC Lions Head Coaches
2003– 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Awards
Preceded by CFL Coach of the Year
1992–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Grey Cup winning Head Coach
80th Grey Cup, 1992
86th Grey Cup, 1998
89th Grey Cup, 2001
94th Grey Cup, 2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by CFL Coach of the Year
2006 		Succeeded by
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