26 Facts About Wally Buono

Wally Buono spent 22 years as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and the Lions, which is tied for the most seasons coached all-time.

Wally Buono 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, Wally Buono came out of retirement to coach the Lions again through the 2018 season.

Long before coaching Wally 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.

Wally Buono 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.

Wally Buono 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.

Wally Buono attended Idaho State University and was a linebacker for the ISU Bengals.

Wally Buono returned to Canada and played 10 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes as a linebacker and punter, appearing in 152 consecutive games, not missing one in his career.

Wally Buono appeared in five Grey Cups between 1974 and 1979, winning two in 1974 and 1977.

In 1982, after his retirement as a player, Wally Buono served as a coach with the Montreal Junior Concordes.

From 1987 to 1989, Wally Buono served as an assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders under head coaches Bob Vespaziani and Lary Kuharich.

In 1990, Wally Buono was hired as Calgary's head coach by Stampeders president Norman Kwong.

Wally Buono was named CFL Coach of the Year for the first time.

Wally Buono was named CFL Coach of the Year for the second time.

Wally Buono led the Stampeders to the playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons, including 8 first-place finishes and 5 straight from 1992 to 1996, and 11 Division Final appearances.

The Stampeders went to 6 Grey Cup games under Wally Buono, winning 3: 1992,1998, and 2001, and losing 3: 1991,1995,1999.

Wally Buono left the franchise as its winningest coach in championships, allegedly only leaving because the Stampeders attempted to force him to play Kevin Feterik, the owner's son, as the starting quarterback, a charge both the Feteriks denied.

Wally Buono was hired as head coach and general manager of the BC Lions prior to the 2003 season.

Wally Buono's teams went through a slight downturn for the following three seasons, including two that were under.

Wally Buono announced his resignation as head coach of the Lions on December 5,2011 to focus on his duties as general manager.

Wally Buono retains his position as the Vice President of Football Operations.

Wally Buono stated that 2018 will be his final year as head coach.

Also, Wally Buono felt it was important that backup quarterbacks get sufficient time in practice to develop.

Calgary under Wally Buono went to Grey Cups with the following starting quarterbacks: Danny Barrett, Flutie, Garcia, Dave Dickenson, and Marcus Crandell.

In BC, Wally Buono's starting quarterbacks in Grey Cup games were Dickenson and Travis Lulay.

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.