Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", (b. June 30, 1940, Butte, Montana) is the current General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats [1] of the Canadian Football League.
A former NCAA college basketball player, Obie has been involved with the CFL since 1963 in the roles of player, coach, general manager, scout, and several front-office positions. He has a wife, Judy; and three children: Tracy, Jodi, and Coy.
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NCAA college basketball
O'Billovich is a former NCAA college basketball player for the University of Montana, playing from 1960 to 1962. He was named University of Montana Athlete of the Decade for 1960-1970, and inducted to the University of Montana Grizzly Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.
Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union
Bob O'Billovich was coach of the Carleton University Ravens CIAU men's basketball team from 1971 to 1973. From 1973 to 1974, O'Billovich served as head coach for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men's basketball team.
Canadian Football League
O'Billovich began his CFL career as a player in 1963 with the Ottawa Rough Riders. He played both defensive back and quarterback.
In 1974, O'Billovich launched his CFL coaching career with the Rough Riders, first as a guest coach, and then assistant coach.
O'Billovich was named head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 1982, a position he held until 1989. During his tenure at Toronto, the Argonauts appeared in the Grey Cup three times (1982, 1983, 1987), winning the Cup in 1983. He was honoured as CFL Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1987.
Bob O'Billovich joined the BC Lions in midseason on September 14, 1990. The Lions had been off to a dismal 2-8 start that season; they finished the season with an improved 6-11 record. O'Billovich remained as head coach of the Lions through the end of the 1992 season, a year in which the Lions finished at 3-15.
In 1993, O'Billovich returned to the Argonauts as general manager. The Argos began that season poorly, and O'Billovich took over as head coach on September 10, 1993. He coached for the remainder of the 1993 season and for the entirety of the 1994 season. At the end of the 1994 season, O'Billovich relinquished the head coach position to concentrate on his general manager duties. The Argos again had a poor start for the 1995 season and O'Billovich took over as head coach for the final nine games; the team finished the season with a lackluster 4-14 record.
O'Billovich was director of player personnel with the BC Lions from 2003 to 2007. In December 2007, O'Billovich was hired as general manager by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[2]
Achievements
- University of Montana Athlete of the Decade (1960-1970)
- Inducted to the University of Montana Grizzly Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993
- CFL Coach of the Year (1982, 1987)
- Grey Cup champion coach (1983)
- All-time winningest coach for the Argonauts (89-79-3 in 11 seasons)
| Preceded by Tommy Hudspeth |
Toronto Argonauts Head Coaches 1982–1989 |
Succeeded by Don Matthews |
| Preceded by Jim Young |
BC Lions Head Coaches 1990–1992 |
Succeeded by Dave Ritchie |
| Preceded by Dennis Meyer |
Toronto Argonauts Head Coaches 1993–1994 |
Succeeded by Mike Faragalli |
| Preceded by Mike Faragalli |
Toronto Argonauts Head Coaches 1995 |
Succeeded by Don Matthews |
References
- ^ cfl.ca
- ^ "Bob O'Billovich tabbed as Tiger-Cats GM". CBC.ca. 2007-12-04. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/story/2007/12/04/cfl-tigercats-obillovich.html. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
External links
- Getting to know Bob O'Billovich (Video profile from Ticats.ca)
- O'Billovich works magic to rejuvenate the Tiger-Cats (Toronto Star article)
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