Buono on the Steps of the Hall of Fame

MONTREAL - Sept. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Canadian Football’s most winning coach will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame this weekend. Wally Buono is the general manager, vice president of football operations and alternate governour of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.  He is one of the most successful head coaches in league history. Wally 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.  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.

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 appearing in 152 games. He appeared in five Grey Cups between 1972 and 1981, winning two in '74 and '77.

The Wally Buono Award, which is in honour of Wally as a professional and a player 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.  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:

·       2013 – QB Asher Hastings, Regina Thunder (PCF/CJFL)

·       2012 – QB Jordan Yantz, Vancouver Island Raiders (BCFC/CJFL)

·       2011 – SB Michael Schaper, Vancouver Island Raiders (BCFC/CJFL)

·       2010 – DL Kleevens Jean-Louis, Châteauguay Raiders (QJFL)

·       2009 – RB Andrew Harris, Vancouver Island Raiders (BCFC/CJFL)

·       2008 – WR Cassidy Doneff, Calgary Colts (PFC/CJFL)

·       2007 – RB Tristan Jones, Edmonton Wildcats (PFC/CJFL)

·       2006 – QB Nate Friesen, Winnipeg Rifles (PFC/CJFL)

·       2005 – RB Jeff Halvorson, Posthumous, Okanagan Sun (BCFC/CJFL)

·       2004 – RB Chris Ciezki, Edmonton Huskies (PFC/CJFL)

·       2003 – RB Alan Giacalone, Calgary Colts (PFC/CJFL)

“It is an honour to have a man of Wally Buono’s ability and integrity involved with this award.  Saint Bernard Pass Charitable Foundation could not ask for a better namesake and partner in this annual event.  Wally is everything a professional athlete and coach should aspire to be” stated financial director, Chance Saint Marche.

Christina Saint Marche added the following; “We wish Wally and his family the very best this weekend.  To be selected by a group of your peers is what is important as a professional especially in the world of sports.  Wally has done a great deal for our junior players, several who have made it to the professional ranks because of his belief in each of them.”

About the Induction Dinner in Montreal:

The Canadian Football Induction Gala Dinner is on 20^th September 2014 at Montreal’s  La TOHU.

About the Wally Buono Award:

The Wally Buono Award is housed at the Nanaimo Museum and Sports Hall of Fame in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallybuonoaward

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