Bob O'Billovich
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Obie", (b. June 30, 1940, Butte, Montana
) is the current General Manager
of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
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.
, O'Billovich went to Missoula, Montana
to attend college. 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.
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.
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
.
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
) is the current General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
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....
.
A former NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
college basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
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.
NCAA college basketball
After graduating from high school in Butte, MontanaButte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, O'Billovich went to Missoula, Montana
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
to attend college. 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 UniversityCarleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
Ravens
Carleton Ravens
The Carleton Ravens football team is a future varsity team that was approved for 2013 membership on July 6, 2011. The team will be a member of the Ontario University Athletics conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, returning football to Carleton University after a 15-year absence...
CIAU
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
men's basketball team from 1971 to 1973. From 1973 to 1974, O'Billovich served as head coach for the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
Gee-Gees men's basketball team.
Canadian Football League
O'Billovich began his CFL career as a player in 19631963 CFL season
The 1963 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 10th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 6th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1963:...
with the 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...
. He played both defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
.
In 1974
1974 CFL season
The 1974 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 21st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 17th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News 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
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...
in 1982
1982 CFL season
The 1982 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 29th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 25th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1982:After the 1981 season the Montreal Alouettes folded...
, a position he held until 1989
1989 CFL season
The 1989 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 36th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 32nd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1989:...
. During his tenure at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the Argonauts appeared in the 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...
three times (1982, 1983
1983 CFL season
The 1983 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 30th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 26th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1983:...
, 1987
1987 CFL season
The 1987 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 34th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 30th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 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
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...
, a year in which the Lions finished at 3–15.
In 1993, O'Billovich returned to the Argonauts as general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
. 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
1993 CFL season
The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:...
and for the entirety of the 1994 season
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:...
. 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
1995 CFL season
The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
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
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...
from 2003 to 2007. In December 2007, O'Billovich was hired as general manager by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
.
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)