Don Matthews
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Amesbury, Massachusetts,U.S. | June 22, 1939
Died | June 14, 2017 Beaverton, Oregon,U.S. | (aged 77)
Playing career | |
1960–1963 | Idaho |
Position(s) | Linebacker |
Coaching career (HCunless noted) | |
1964 | Idaho(GA) |
1965 | Ely HS (NV)(assistant) |
1966–1968 | Ely (NV) HS |
1969–1970 | Joel E. Ferris HS (WA) |
1971–1972 | Idaho (OL) |
1973 | Idaho (OC) |
1974–1976 | Sunset HS (OR) |
1977 | Edmonton Eskimos(LB) |
1978–1982 | Edmonton Eskimos(DC) |
1983–1987 | BC Lions |
1989 | Edmonton Eskimos(DC) |
1990 | Toronto Argonauts |
1991 | Orlando Thunder |
1991–1993 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
1994–1995 | Baltimore Stallions |
1996–1998 | Toronto Argonauts |
1999–2000 | Edmonton Eskimos |
2002–2006 | Montreal Alouettes |
2008 | Toronto Argonauts |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 231–132–1 (CFL) 5–5 (WLAF) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
Grey Cups(5):73rd,83rd,84th,85th,90th | |
Awards | |
Records | |
2nd highest win total by CFL coach | |
Donald J. Matthews,[1]a.k.a. "the Don",(June 22, 1939 – June 14, 2017) was ahead coachof several professional football teams, mostly in theCanadian Football League(CFL). He won 231 games in the CFL, thesecond highest win total by a head coachin the league's history while leading four teams to Grey Cup victories. He was inducted into theCanadian Football Hall of Famein September 2011.
Early life and college
[edit]Matthews was born inAmesbury, Massachusetts,the son of Canadian-born parents, Ida (Babin), fromTracadie,New Brunswick,and Fred Matthews, a steel mill worker fromPrince Edward Island.[2]From a large family of limited means and education, he quit high school in Amesbury after his senior season of football in 1956 and served three years in theU.S. Marine Corps.[3]
Matthews returned home and earned his high school diploma and then on the advice of a teacher, ventured west in 1960 as a 21-year-old freshman toMoscow, Idaho.Hewalked-onatIdahoas alinebackeron the freshman team;[4]he was awarded ascholarshipby varsity head coachSkip Stahleyafter his first semester.[5]He earned three letters and was a team captain in his senior season of1963,when the Vandals, in their second year underDee Andros,achieved their first winning season in a quarter century.[6]Matthews graduated from theUniversity of Idahowith a degree in education in 1964.[3][7][8]
Early career
[edit]Matthews was agraduate assistantfor theVandalsinMoscowfor the1964season under Andros and freshman coachBud Riley.[9]Matthews then coachedhigh school footballinNevadaatElyfor four years and won a state title. He relocated toeastern WashingtonatSpokanein 1969 as head coach atFerris,where he led the Saxons to the city title in his second and final year.[10]
Matthews became a collegiate assistant coach back at hisalma materin1971as offensive line coach (later as offensive coordinator), under second-year head coachDon Robbins.[7]After an0–2start, the Vandals finished at8–3,which included an eight-game winning streak, and won theBig Skytitle. At the time it was the best record in school history, and three seniors were selected in the1972 NFL draft.Two years later, Robbins was fired following the1973season and Matthews moved to thePortlandarea. He took over a winless program atSunset High SchoolinBeavertonand won consecutive state championships in 1975 and 1976, going undefeated in his third and final year.[3]He left Sunset after the 1976 season to become aCFLassistant coach inEdmonton,Alberta.[11]
Pro coaching career
[edit]Matthews was formerly head coach of the CFL'sBC Lions,Saskatchewan Roughriders,Baltimore Stallions,Toronto Argonauts,Edmonton Eskimos,andMontreal Alouettes.He was also head coach of theOrlando Thunderof theWorld League of American Footballin 1991.[12]
After coaching the Eskimos for two seasons, Matthews resigned as head coach just prior to the team's first preseason game on June 18, 2001.[13]
In October 2006, Matthews stepped down as head coach of the Alouettes expressing undisclosed health issues that were "affecting his ability to perform".[14]
In May 2008, Matthews was announced as an advisor to theJeff Hunt-led group's conditionalOttawa franchise.[15]
Don Matthews returned to Toronto on September 9, 2008, as the interim coach for the Argonauts, after they started the season with a 4–6 record.[16]In that press conference, Matthews revealed that the major health reason that caused him to step down as head coach of the Alouettes was ananxiety disorder.He also went further to say that he had been prescribed to some medication and the anxiety attacks are now under control.[17][18]On October 31, 2008, he resigned from the Argonauts a day after the conclusion of the Argonauts2008 regular season,which saw the Argos fail to win a game in the eight games under his leadership and finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since the2001 CFL season.[19]
Matthews was selected for induction in the Builder category into theCanadian Football Hall of Fameon February 10, 2011.[20]
On November 5, 2012, Matthews announced he was battling cancer and therefore would not be able to participate in any of the festivities for the100th Grey Cupin Toronto.[21]
The Montreal Alouettes announced on July 30, 2014, that Matthews had joined the team in a coaching consultant role for the second consecutive year.[22]
Coaching records
[edit]Don Matthews holds several head coaching records:[23]
- MostGrey Cupappearances (9 – tied)
- Most Grey Cup wins (5 – tied)
He also has an additional five Grey Cup titles as defensive co-ordinator of theEdmonton Eskimos.
CFL head coaching record
[edit]- Source:justsportsstats.com
Team | Year | Regular season | Post-season | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
BC | 1983 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost inGrey Cup | |
BC | 1984 | 12 | 3 | 1 | .800 | 1st in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
BC | 1985 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in West Division | 2 | 0 | WonGrey Cup | |
BC | 1986 | 12 | 6 | 0 | .667 | 2nd in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
BC | 1987 | 8 | 6 | 0 | .573 | 1st in West Division | – | – | (fired) | |
TOR | 1990 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
SSK | 1991 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | 4th in West Division | – | – | Missed Playoffs | |
SSK | 1992 | 9 | 9 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
SSK | 1993 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 3rd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
BAL | 1994 | 12 | 6 | 0 | .667 | 2nd in East Division | 2 | 1 | Lost inGrey Cup | |
BAL | 1995 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 | 1st in South Division | 3 | 0 | WonGrey Cup | |
TOR | 1996 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 | 1st in East Division | 2 | 0 | WonGrey Cup | |
TOR | 1997 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 | 1st in East Division | 2 | 0 | WonGrey Cup | |
TOR | 1998 | 9 | 9 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in East Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
EDM | 1999 | 6 | 12 | 0 | .333 | 3rd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
EDM | 2000 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 2nd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
MTL | 2002 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 1st in East Division | 2 | 0 | WonGrey Cup | |
MTL | 2003 | 13 | 5 | 0 | .722 | 1st in East Division | 1 | 1 | Lost inGrey Cup | |
MTL | 2004 | 14 | 4 | 0 | .778 | 1st in East Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | |
MTL | 2005 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 2nd in East Division | 2 | 1 | Lost inGrey Cup | |
MTL | 2006 | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 1st in East Division | – | – | (stepped down) | |
TOR | 2008 | 0 | 8 | 0 | .000 | 3rd in East Division | – | – | missed playoffs | |
Team totals | ||||||||||
BC | 1983–1987 | 56 | 23 | 1 | .700 | 4 West Division Championships |
4 | 3 | 1 Grey Cup | |
TOR | 1990, 1996– 1998, 2008 |
49 | 31 | 0 | .613 | 2 East Division Championships |
5 | 2 | 2 Grey Cups | |
SSK | 1991–1993 | 25 | 22 | 0 | .532 | 0 West Division Championships |
0 | 2 | 0 Grey Cups | |
BAL | 1994–1995 | 27 | 9 | 0 | .750 | 1 South Division Championship |
5 | 1 | 1 Grey Cup | |
EDM | 1999–2000 | 16 | 20 | 0 | .444 | 0 West Division Championships |
0 | 2 | 0 Grey Cups | |
MTL | 2002–2006 | 58 | 28 | 0 | .674 | 4 East Division Championships |
5 | 2 | 1 Grey Cup | |
Total | 231 | 133 | 1 | .633 | 11 Division Championships |
19 | 13 | 5 Grey Cups |
Personal
[edit]Matthews' mother, Ida, was afrancophonefromTracadie, New Brunswick,while his father, Fred, was fromPrince Edward Island.Had currentCanadian nationality lawsbeen in effect in 1939, Matthews would have become a Canadian citizen under the principle ofjus sanguines,but separate Canadian citizenship was not enacted until 1947 and was not extended retroactively to anyone born outside the country prior to 1947. In 2004, Matthews became a naturalized Canadian citizen.[24]
Matthews had three sons and six grandchildren. He lived inBeaverton, Oregon,with his wife Stephanie and stepson Blaze.[25]
After a long 5-year battle with cancer, Matthews died on June 14, 2017.[26]
See also
[edit]- List of Canadian Football League head coaches by wins
- List of National Football League head coaches with 200 wins
References
[edit]- ^Rogers Digital Media."The life and legacy of the incomparable Don Matthews".Sportsnet.ca.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
- ^Bill Beacon (October 20, 2004)."Matthews chooses to become citizen".The Globe and Mail.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
- ^abcPortland TribuneArchivedFebruary 15, 2010, at theWayback Machine- A new game plan for famed coach - 2010-02-11
- ^"Vandal babe standouts".Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1961. p. 154.
- ^Blanchette, John (February 9, 1983)."Things are not so shaky for Don Matthews anymore".Spokesman-Review.Spokane, Washington. p. C1.
- ^"Football".Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1964. p. 255.
- ^abGo Vandals.com- lifetime achievement - Don Matthews - accessed 2011-10-22
- ^Lawton, James (January 15, 1983)."Matthews has travelled a long, tough highway".Vancouver Sun.British Columbia. p. E1.
- ^"Football".Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1965. p. 252.
- ^"Ferris coach takes post as aide with Vandals".Spokane Daily Chronicle.(Washington). January 29, 1971. p. 15.
- ^"Don Matthews, local and legendary football coach, dies at 77".OregonLive.com. June 16, 2017.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
- ^"Orlando Thunder History".Worldleagueofamericanfootball.com.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
The Orlando Thunder was a member of the World League of American Football from 1991 to 1992 (known as NFL Europe from 1995 onwards). The team played their games in the 70,000 seat Citrus Bowl, and was coached by Don Matthews in 1991 and Galen Hall in 1992...
- ^"Don Matthews steps down".Canadian Football League.June 18, 2001. Archived fromthe originalon January 1, 2003.
- ^"Als coach Matthews resigns".CBC Sports. October 4, 2006.RetrievedOctober 31,2008.
- ^Brennan, Don (September 12, 2008)."Hunt: Matthews inspired by Kilrea".Ottawa Sun.Archived from the original on July 14, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 12,2008.
{{cite news}}
:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^"Argos fire Stubler, bring back Matthews".CBC Sports. September 9, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 9,2008.
- ^"Hamilton's online newspaper | Today's Spectator stories".TheSpec.com.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
- ^O’Connor, Joe (October 29, 2008)."Argos' Matthews winning battle with anxiety".National Post.Canada.RetrievedOctober 31,2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Matthews quits as Argos coach".CBC Sports. October 31, 2008.RetrievedOctober 31,2008.
- ^"Canadian Football Hall of Fame announces Class of 2011," Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum, Thursday, February 10, 2011.ArchivedJuly 6, 2011, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Don Matthews battling cancer".Calgary Sun.RetrievedNovember 6,2012.
- ^"Don Matthews, Turk Schonert join Alouettes as consultants | Metro News".Metronews.ca. July 30, 2014.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
- ^"Hall of Fame Builder: Don Matthews. Inducted in 2011".Canadian Football Hall of Fame. 2011.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
- ^"Alouettes hammer Renegades at the Big O".CBC News.October 23, 2004.
- ^Canada (July 19, 2013)."Legendary coach Don Matthews 'making a comeback'".The Globe and Mail.RetrievedJune 18,2017.
- ^"Legendary CFL coach Don Matthews dead at age 77".CBC News.June 14, 2017.
External links
[edit]- 1939 births
- 2017 deaths
- American football linebackers
- Baltimore Stallions coaches
- BC Lions coaches
- Edmonton Elks coaches
- Idaho Vandals football coaches
- Idaho Vandals football players
- Montreal Alouettes coaches
- Orlando Thunder coaches
- Saskatchewan Roughriders coaches
- Toronto Argonauts coaches
- Toronto Argonauts general managers
- High school football coaches in Oregon
- High school football coaches in Nevada
- High school football coaches in Washington (state)
- Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees
- People from Amesbury, Massachusetts
- Players of American football from Massachusetts
- Sportspeople from Essex County, Massachusetts
- American emigrants to Canada
- American people of Canadian descent
- Naturalized citizens of Canada
- Deaths from cancer in Oregon