Wally Buono
Trustee
Wally Buono enters his seventh season as Lions general manager and head coach. Over the past six seasons, Buono has led the Lions to six playoff appearances; five consecutive appearances in the West Division Final as well as a Grey Cup Championship in 2006.
In 2008, Buono added to his club record for career wins as Lions head coach which now sits at 74.
Over a 19-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 227-112-3, putting him second only to Don Matthews in all-time CFL wins (231). 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.
