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![]() Buono in 2009 | |
Born: | Potenza, Italy | February 7, 1950
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Career information | |
Position(s) | General manager Head coach |
College | Idaho State University |
Career history | |
As administrator | |
1992–2002 | Calgary Stampeders (GM) |
2003–2017 | BC Lions (GM) |
As coach | |
1982 | Montreal Junior Concordes (Coach) |
1983–1985 | Montreal Concordes (AC) |
1986 | Montreal Alouettes (AC) |
1987–1989 | Calgary Stampeders (AC) |
1990–2002 | Calgary Stampeders (HC) |
2003–2011, 2016–2018 | BC Lions (HC) |
As player | |
1972–1981 | Montreal Alouettes |
Career highlights and awards | |
Awards | 4× Annis Stukus Trophy (1992, 1993, 2006, 2011) |
Honours | 7× Grey Cup champion As player: 1974, 1977 As coach: 1992, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2011 |
Records | Most regular-season wins by a head coach (282) Most first-place finishes by a head coach (13) Most Grey Cup wins by a head coach (5) |
Career stats | |
Pasquale "Wally" Buono[1][2] CM (born February 7, 1950) is a Canadian ex-football coach currently working as the vice president of football operations, alternate governor and the former head coach of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and one of the most successful head coaches in league history. He spent 22 years as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and the 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 in 2011 with a CFL record 254 regular-season wins as head coach, to focus on duties as general manager for the Lions. In 2016, Buono came out of retirement to coach the Lions again through the 2018 season. In the final home game of the 2018 season, Buono was honored with the Bob Ackles Award as he was retiring from football with the most wins as a coach.
Long before coaching Buono was a linebacker and punter for 10 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, appearing in 152 consecutive games, not missing one, and in five Grey Cup games between 1972 and 1981, winning two in 1974 and 1977.
Buono's post-season coaching record is 23–17, 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]
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