Wally Buono - General Manager, Head Coach - Alternate Governor, CFL

Wally Buono enters his sixth season as the Lions general manager and head coach. Over the past five seasons, Buono has led the Lions to five consecutive playoff appearances and four first-place regular season finishes as well as a Grey Cup Championship in 2006. Last season he broke the club record for career wins as Lions head coach with his 57th. Buono would lead the team to a franchise-high 14 wins in 2007 and push his Lions win total to 63 in the process.

Over an 18-year coaching career, Buono has led his clubs to 10 division titles and four Grey Cup championships. Highly respected among coaching peers, he has amassed a regular season record of 216-105-3, putting him second only to Don Matthews in all-time CFL wins. His consistency and success have been recognized with the CFL’s Coach of the Year award in 2006, 1992 and 1993.

Born in Potenza, Italy, in 1950, Wally moved to Canada in 1953 with his family, later playing minor football in Montreal. He attended Idaho State University and was a linebacker for the Bengals. Wally returned to Canada and played 10 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes as a linebacker and punter, appearing in 152 games. Shortly after his retirement, Wally tried his hand at coaching, landing an assistant position with the Montreal organization in 1983. Four years later, Wally found himself in Calgary where he worked under Larry Kuharich until 1990 when Stamps’ President Norman Kwong hired him as head coach of the Stamps.

Aside from being an accomplished CFL coach, Wally is a noted contributor to the community, being recognized for his work with the Paul Harris award in 2001. Wally continues to donate a significant amount of time as an ambassador of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation and as a spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

After being diagnosed with angina in 2004, Wally has been spokesperson for Making the Connection TM, a program dedicated to the ongoing education of Canadians about the dangers of high cholesterol and its link to heart disease. Wally is also actively involved with Operation Christmas Child, giving presents of clothing and toys to children of impoverished nations.

Wally and his wife Sande have four children, Amy, Dana, Christie and Michael and one grandchild Jonah.

Buono’s CFL Head Coaching Regular Season Record

Year Team GC W L T OTL
2007 BC Lions 18 14* 3 1 1st place West Division
2006 BC Lions 18 13 5 0 1 1st place West Division
2005 BC Lions 18 12 6 0 0 1st Place West Division
2004 BC Lions 18 13 5 0 0 1st Place West Division
2003 BC Lions 18 11 7 0 0 4th Place West Division
2002 Calgary 18 6 12 0 2 5th Place Western Division
2001 Calgary 18 8 10 0 1 2nd Place Western Division
2000 Calgary 18 12 5 1 0 1st Place Western Division
1999 Calgary 18 12 6 0 0 2nd Place Western Division
1998 Calgary 18 12 6 0 0 1st Place Western Division
1997 Calgary 18 10 8 0 0 2nd Place Western Division
1996 Calgary 18 13 5 0 0 1st Place Western Division
1995 Calgary 18 15 3 0 0 1st Place North Division
1994 Calgary 18 15 3 0 0 1st Place Western Division
1993 Calgary 18 15 3 0 0 1st Place Western Division
1992 Calgary 18 13 5 0 0 1st Place Western Division
1991 Calgary 18 11 7 0 0 2nd Place Western Division
1990 Calgary 18 11 6 1 0 1st Place Western Division
Totals 324 216 105 3 4


Buono’s CFL Head Coaching Post Season Record

Year Team GC W L
2007 BC Lions 1 0 1 Lost West Final
2006 BC Lions 2 2 0 Won Grey Cup
2005 BC Lions 1 0 1 Lost West Division Final
2004 BC Lions 2 1 1 Lost in Grey Cup Game
2003 BC Lions 1 0 1 Lost in Eastern Semi-Final
2002 Calgary - Missed Playoffs
2001 Calgary 3 3 0 Won Grey Cup
2000 Calgary 1 0 1 Lost in Western Final
1999 Calgary 3 2 1 Lost in Grey Cup Game
1998 Calgary 2 2 0 Won Grey Cup
1997 Calgary 1 0 1 Lost in Western Semi-Final
1996 Calgary 1 0 1 Lost in Western Final
1995 Calgary 3 2 1 Lost in Grey Cup Game
1994 Calgary 2 1 1 Lost in Western Final
1993 Calgary 2 1 1 Lost in Western Final
1992 Calgary 2 2 0 Won Grey Cup
1991 Calgary 3 2 1 Lost in Grey Cup Game
1990 Calgary 1 0 1 Lost in Western Final
Totals 30 18 12