Bob O'Billovich

Bob O'Billovich
Date of birth (1940-06-30) June 30, 1940
Place of birth Butte, Montana
Career information
CFL status International
Position(s) QB/DB
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 182 lb (83 kg)
College Montana
Career history
As administrator
1990–1992 BC Lions (GM)
1994–1995 Toronto Argonauts (GM)
2008–2012 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (GM)
As coach
1982–1989 Toronto Argonauts
1990–1992 BC Lions
1993–1994 Toronto Argonauts
1995 Toronto Argonauts
As player
1963–1967 Ottawa Rough Riders
Career highlights and awards
  • Grey Cup champion (1983)
CFL East All-Star 1965
Career stats

Robert "Bob" O'Billovich, nicknamed "Bobby O" or "Obie", (born June 30, 1940) is a former Canadian Football League player, coach and administrator. Bob was born and raised in Butte, Montana where he was an outstanding football and basketball player at Butte High School. At Butte HS he lettered three years in basketball and two years in football; making All State in both sports. He also lettered in track and played shortstop on the Butte American Legion baseball team.

A former NCAA college football, basketball and baseball player at Montana State University (later renamed the University of Montana) where he started in all three sports for three years. Obie started three years in football for Montana as a quarterback and defensive back (1959-1961). In addition, Obie was a starting guard in basketball and the starting shortstop in baseball for Montana (1960-1962). He was an all-Skyline Conference selection in all three sports. Obie also lettered at least one year in track for Montana. 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. His younger brother, Jack "Mad Dog" O'Billovich, who died in 1995 of a heart condition, was an All-American at Oregon State who helped OSU get to the Rose Bowl in 1965.

NCAA college basketball

After graduating from high school in Butte, Montana, O'Billovich went to Missoula, Montana to attend college.[1][2] 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 as general manager and interim coach. The Lions had been off to a dismal 2–8-1 start that season; they finished the season with an improved 6–11-1 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 after firing Mike Faragalli; 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.[3] On January 12, 2012, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced his promotion to Vice President of football operations.[4] On December 17, 2012, Kent Austin replaced O'Billovich as the Tiger-Cats' GM when he was also hired as the team's new head coach.

He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

CFL coaching record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
WonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Result
TOR1982 961.600 1st in East Division 1 1 Lost in Grey Cup
TOR1983 1240.750 1st in East Division 2 0 Won Grey Cup
TOR1984 961.600 1st in East Division 0 1 Lost in East Final
TOR1985 6100.375 4th in East Division - - Failed to Qualify
TOR1986 1080.555 1st in East Division 1 1 Lost in East Final
TOR1987 1161.647 2nd in East Division 2 1 Lost in Grey Cup
TOR1988 1440.7771st in East Division 0 1 Lost in East Final
TOR1989 7110.388 2nd in East Division 0 1 Lost in East Semi-Final
BC1990 430.571 4th in West Division - - Failed to Qualify
BC1991 1170.611 3rd in West Division 0 1 Lost in West Semi-Final
BC1992 3150.166 4th in West Division - - Failed to Qualify
TOR1993 260.250 4th in East Division - - Failed to Qualify
TOR1994 7110.388 3rd in East Division 0 1 Lost in East Semi-Final
TOR1995 270.222 7th in North Division - - Failed to Qualify
Total 1071043.5075 Division
Championships		 6 8 1 Grey Cup

CFL GM record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
WonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Result
BC1990 430.571 4th in West Division - - Failed to Qualify
BC1991 1170.611 3rd in West Division 0 1 Lost in West Semi-Final
BC1992 3150.166 4th in West Division - - Failed to Qualify
TOR1993 260.250 4th in East Division - - Failed to Qualify
TOR1994 7110.388 3rd in East Division 0 1 Lost in East Semi-Final
TOR1995 4140.222 7th in North Division - - Failed to Qualify
HAM2008 3150.166 4th in East Division – – Missed Playoffs
HAM2009 990.500 2nd in East Division 0 1 Lost East Semi-Final
HAM2010 990.500 2nd in East Division 0 1 Lost East Semi-Final
HAM2011 8100.444 3rd in East Division 1 1 Lost East Final
HAM2012 6120.333 3rd in East Division - - Failed to Qualify
Total 661110.3720 Division
Championships		 1 5 0 Grey Cups

Achievements

Personal

O'Billovich lives in Oakville, Ontario,[5] married to wife Judy from Ottawa where their children were born.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Ferguson, Bob (1983). Who's Who in Canadian Sport. 4. Markham, ON and Allston, MA: Fitzhenry and Whiteside Ltd. p. 329. ISBN 1-55041-855-6.
  2. ↑ Foley, Bill (August 23, 2008). "O'Billovich Pays A Visit". Montana Standard. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Bob O'Billovich tabbed as Tiger-Cats GM". CBC.ca. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
  4. ↑ http://www.cfl.ca/article/ticats-promote-o-billovich-to-vp-of-football-ops Ticats promote O'Billovich to VP of Football Ops
  5. ↑ http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/2162603-personal-tragedy-kept-obie-close-to-home/
  6. ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/bob-obillovich-announces-retirement-after-50-year-career-in-cfl/article8163921/
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