16 Facts About Lew Hayman

Lewis Edward Hayman was an American sports figure.

Lew Hayman was one of the driving forces behind the Canadian Football League as coach, general manager, team president, and league president.

Lew Hayman was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Lew Hayman was born to a Jewish family in New York City and grew up in Paterson, New Jersey.

Lew Hayman attended high school at New York Military Academy and was a star basketball player at Syracuse University, where he was a three-year starter and named College Humor third team All-American in 1931.

Lew Hayman was hired as an assistant to coach Buck McKenna with the Toronto Argonauts football team.

When McKenna took ill during the 1932 season, Lew Hayman became interim head coach.

Lew Hayman was given the job outright for the 1933 season and, at the age of 25, guided the Argonauts to a Grey Cup championship.

Lew Hayman followed that with back-to-back Grey Cup wins in 1937 and 1938.

Lew Hayman was made coach of Toronto's RCAF football team and led the Toronto RCAF Hurricanes to the 1942 Grey Cup championship.

Lew Hayman was discharged after the war, having reached the rank of flight lieutenant.

Lew Hayman thought he had an agreement with the Argonauts to return as head coach when play resumed in 1945, but the deal fell through and Ted Morris was hired instead.

Lew Hayman was elected president of the CFL in 1969 and served a one-year term.

Lew Hayman was planning to retire when the season ended, but was persuaded by owner John W H Bassett to sign a three-year contract as team president, followed by 10 years as vice-chairman and director.

Lew Hayman again became president of the Argonauts in 1979 and remained in that role until he was succeeded by Ralph Sazio during the 1981 season.

Lew Hayman was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975.