Wally Buono enters his ninth season as Lions general manager and head coach. Over the past eight seasons, Buono has led the Lions to eight playoff appearances; five appearances in the West Division Final and a crossover visit to the East Final as well as a Grey Cup Championship in 2006.

In 2009, Buono surpassed Don Matthews’ 232 victories to become the all-time leader in coaching wins and now has 243 entering the 2011 campaign. Wally is also the Lions leader career wins as head coach with 90. His consistency and success have been recognized with the CFL’s Coach of the Year award in 2006, 1992 and 1993. 

In a coaching career that now enters its 22nd year, 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 243-132-3. He begins the 2010 season having coached a total of 378 games which eclipsed  Don Matthews’ mark of 365.

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.

Among his charitable efforts, Wally is 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 three grandchildren, Jonah, Lucas and Jack.

View Wally Buono's all-time coaching record