Adam Rita
Encyclopedia
Adam Rita is a Canadian Football League
executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts
, Ottawa Rough Riders
, and BC Lions
and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts.
Rita first began his CFL coaching career in 1983 as the offensive co-ordinator for the B.C. Lions. He first became a CFL Head Coach in 1991 with the Toronto Argonauts with whom he won his first and only Grey Cup
championship as a Head Coach in that same year
.
As a young boy in Hawaii, Rita was a member of a canoe club and appeared paddling a canoe in the wedding scene of the Elvis Presley
movie Blue Hawaii
.
In 2004, Rita was named General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations of the Toronto Argonauts. Toronto won the 92nd Grey Cup
in his first year on the job, but managed only a 48–60 record after that. Rita's contract was not renewed following the 2010 season and he was replaced by head coach Jim Barker
.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
executive who has served as the head coach of Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
, and BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts.
Rita first began his CFL coaching career in 1983 as the offensive co-ordinator for the B.C. Lions. He first became a CFL Head Coach in 1991 with the Toronto Argonauts with whom he won his first and only Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
championship as a Head Coach in that same year
79th Grey Cup
The 79th Grey Cup was the 1991 Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Argonauts defeated the Stampeders 36-21 in an entertaining game....
.
As a young boy in Hawaii, Rita was a member of a canoe club and appeared paddling a canoe in the wedding scene of the Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
movie Blue Hawaii
Blue Hawaii
Blue Hawaii is a 1961 musical film set in the state of Hawaii and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical. The movie opened at no...
.
In 2004, Rita was named General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations of the Toronto Argonauts. Toronto won the 92nd Grey Cup
92nd Grey Cup
The 92nd Grey Cup game took place on November 21, 2004, at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. The game decided the championship of the 2004 Canadian Football League season...
in his first year on the job, but managed only a 48–60 record after that. Rita's contract was not renewed following the 2010 season and he was replaced by head coach Jim Barker
Jim Barker
Jim Barker is the head coach and general manager of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League....
.
CFL Coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | TOR 1991 Toronto Argonauts season The 1991 Toronto Argonauts finished in first place in the East Division with a 13–5–0 record and won the Grey Cup.-Offseason:In February 1991, the Argonauts were purchased by Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy. In April 1991, the Argonauts signed Raghib Ismail to a four year contract worth... |
1991 1991 CFL season The 1991 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 34th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1991:... |
13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 1st in East Division | 2 | 0 | Won Grey Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR 1992 Toronto Argonauts season The 1992 Toronto Argonauts finished in fourth place in the East Division with a 6–12–0 record and failed to make the playoffs.-Standings:-Schedule:-References:... |
1992 1992 CFL season -1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos... |
3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 4th in East Division | – | – | Fired | ||
| OTT 1994 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1994 Ottawa Rough Riders finished 4th place in the East division with a 4–14–0 record. They were defeated in the East Semi-Final by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-Season standings:-Schedule:-Postseason:... |
1994 1994 CFL season The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:... |
4 | 14 | 0 | .222 | 4th in East Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semifinals | ||
| BC 1997 BC Lions season The 1997 BC Lions finished in 4th place in the West Division with a 8–10 record. Because of the "crossover" rule, they appeared in the East Semi-Final... |
1997 1997 CFL season The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:... |
8 | 10 | 0 | .444 | 4th in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semifinals | ||
| BC 1998 BC Lions season The 1998 BC Lions finished in 3rd place in the West Division with a 9–9 record. They appeared in the West Semi-Final, but lost to the Edmonton Eskimos.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-1998 CFL All-Stars:... |
1998 1998 CFL season -1998 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Mike Pringle , Montreal Alouettes*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Mike Morreale , Hamilton Tiger-Cats*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Joe Montford , Hamilton Tiger-Cats... |
2 | 6 | 0 | .250 | 4th in West Division | – | – | Resigned | ||
| BC 2002 BC Lions season The 2002 BC Lions finished in 3rd place in the West Division with a 10–8 record. They appeared in the West-Semi Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:- Passing:-Rushing:-Receiving:-2002 CFL All-Stars:... |
2002 2002 CFL season The 2002 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2002:... |
9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 3rd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semifinals |