Frank Clair
Encyclopedia
Frank James Clair was a coach
in the Canadian Football League
, nickname
d "the Professor" for his ability to recognize and develop talent. Clair is the 3rd all-time winningest head coach in the CFL with 147 wins and the winningest head coach in the post-season with 27 vistories. As a result, he won the Annis Stukus Trophy
as the CFL's coach of the year in 1966 and 1969.
, lettering in 1938, 1939, and 1940. As a receiver, he was quarterback
Don Scott
's favorite target. In 1941, Clair played in seven games for the Washington Redskins
.
at the University at Buffalo in 1948 and 1949. During the 1950s, he coached the Toronto Argonauts
to two Grey Cup
s in 1950
and 1952
.
In 1956, he joined the Ottawa Rough Riders
. As coach, Clair led them to Grey Cup Championships in 1960
, 1968
and 1969
. After retiring from coaching following the 1969 season
, became the team's general manager, where they won Grey Cups in 1973
and 1976
. After he was let go in 1978, the team won no more Grey Cups. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
in 1981.
Lansdowne Park
was renamed Frank Clair Stadium
in his honour on April 8, 1993.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
in 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....
, nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "the Professor" for his ability to recognize and develop talent. Clair is the 3rd all-time winningest head coach in the CFL with 147 wins and the winningest head coach in the post-season with 27 vistories. As a result, he won the Annis Stukus Trophy
Annis Stukus Trophy
The Annis Stukus Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, which is presented annually by the Edmonton Eskimos Alumni Association to the Coach of the Year, as determined by the members of the Football Reporters of Canada...
as the CFL's coach of the year in 1966 and 1969.
Playing career
Clair played end for the Ohio State BuckeyesOhio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
, lettering in 1938, 1939, and 1940. As a receiver, he was 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...
Don Scott
Don Scott (American football)
Donald E. Scott was a star of American football. He was a two-time All-America quarterback at the Ohio State University. He died on October 1, 1943 when his bomber crashed while he was training as a pilot in England during World War II.-High school star:...
's favorite target. In 1941, Clair played in seven games for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
Coaching career
Clair found his greatest success in coaching. He was the head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
at the University at Buffalo in 1948 and 1949. During the 1950s, he coached 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...
to two 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...
s in 1950
38th Grey Cup
The 38th Grey Cup, played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto on November 25, 1950, before 27,101 fans, also known as the Mud Bowl, was the Canadian football championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers...
and 1952
40th Grey Cup
The 40th Grey Cup game was the Canadian Football Championship held on 29 November 1952. The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium.-Game highlights:...
.
In 1956, he joined 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...
. As coach, Clair led them to Grey Cup Championships in 1960
48th Grey Cup
The 48th Grey Cup was the Canadian Football League's championship game of the 1960 season on November 26, 1960.The Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 16 to 6 at Vancouver's Empire Stadium before a crowd of 38,102 fans-Box Score:...
, 1968
56th Grey Cup
56th Grey Cup was played November 30, 1968, and the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Calgary Stampeders 24 to 21 before 32,655 fans at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium...
and 1969
57th Grey Cup
57th Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League's championship game, was played November 30, 1969 and the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 29 to 11 before 33,172 fans at Montreal's Autostade.-Box Score:First Quarter...
. After retiring from coaching following the 1969 season
1969 Ottawa Rough Riders season
The 1969 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 1st place in the East division with a 11–3 record and won the Grey Cup, repeating as Grey Cup Champions. Russ Jackson retired from the Canadian Football League after this game, having won three Grey Cup championships...
, became the team's general manager, where they won Grey Cups in 1973
61st Grey Cup
The 61st Grey Cup game was the Canadian Football Championship on November 25, 1973. Ottawa Rough Riders defeated Edmonton Eskimos 22-18 in the CNE Stadium in Toronto before a crowd of 36,653.-Game summary:...
and 1976
64th Grey Cup
The 64th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1976, before 53,467 fans at the Exhibition Stadium at Toronto. The Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders by the score 23 to 20 in what is considered one of the most thrilling Grey Cup games and with perhaps the most exciting plays in...
. After he was let go in 1978, the team won no more Grey Cups. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
in 1981.
Lansdowne Park
Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:...
was renamed Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium
Frank Clair Stadium is a Canadian football stadium in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Lansdowne Park, on the southern edge of The Glebe neighbourhood, where Bank Street crosses the Rideau Canal.-Tenants:...
in his honour on April 8, 1993.
College
CFL
| Team | |Regular Season | TOR 1950 Toronto Argonauts season The 1950 Toronto Argonauts finished in second place in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union with a 6–5–1 record and won the Grey Cup.-Standings:-Schedule:-Postseason:-References:... |
1950 1950 in Canadian football -Canadian Football News in 1950:The Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats merged to form the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Regina franchise officially changed their name to become the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, April 1.... |
6 | 5 | 1 | .542 | 2nd in IRFU | 3 | 1 | Won Grey Cup 38th Grey Cup The 38th Grey Cup, played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto on November 25, 1950, before 27,101 fans, also known as the Mud Bowl, was the Canadian football championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOR 1951 Toronto Argonauts season The 1951 Toronto Argonauts finished in third place in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union with a 7–5–0 record and appeared in the IRFU Semi-Final.-Standings:-Schedule:-Postseason:-References:... |
1951 1951 in Canadian football -Canadian football news in 1951:The BC Lions were formed in January at the Arctic Club in Vancouver; however, the franchise would begin play at the start of the 1954 season.E. Kent Philips of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was appointed WIFU Commissioner... |
7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 3rd in IRFU | 1 | 1 | Lost in IRFU Semi-Finals | ||
| TOR 1952 Toronto Argonauts season The 1952 Toronto Argonauts finished in second place in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union with a 7–4–1 record and won the Grey Cup.-Standings:-Schedule:-Postseason:-References:... |
1952 1952 in Canadian football -Canadian Football News in 1952:The Canadian Rugby Union received television revenue for the first time when it was paid $7,500 by CBC for the rights to televise the Grey Cup game... |
7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | 2nd in IRFU | 4 | 1 | Won Grey Cup 40th Grey Cup The 40th Grey Cup game was the Canadian Football Championship held on 29 November 1952. The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11 at Toronto's Varsity Stadium.-Game highlights:... |
||
| TOR 1953 Toronto Argonauts season The 1953 Toronto Argonauts finished in fourth place in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union with a 5–9–0 record and failed to make the playoffs.-Standings:-Schedule:-References:... |
1953 1953 in Canadian football -Canadian Football News in 1953:The Canadian Rugby Union was paid in total of $20,500 by three television stations for the rights to show the Grey Cup game live.... |
5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 4th in IRFU | - | - | Missed Playoffs | ||
| TOR 1954 Toronto Argonauts season The 1954 Toronto Argonauts finished in third place in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union with a 6–8–0 record and failed to make the playoffs.-Standings:-Schedule:-References:... |
1954 1954 in Canadian football The 1954 season of Canadian football is widely considered to be the first season of the modern era of Canadian football, although the Canadian Football League would not be officially founded for another four years.-Canadian Football News in 1954:... |
6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 3rd in IRFU | - | - | Missed Playoffs | ||
| TOR Total | 31 | 31 | 2 | .500 | 0 East Division Championships |
8 | 3 | 2 Grey Cups | |||
| OTT 1956 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1956 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 3rd place in the IRFU with an 7–7 record but lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Semi-Final.-Preseason:-Standings:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:... |
1956 1956 in Canadian football -Canadian Football News in 1956:On Sunday, January 22, the Canadian Football Council was formed in Winnipeg and the national negotiation list was introduced. G. Sydney Halter, QC was named as the Canadian Football Council Commissioner.... |
7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in IRFU | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | ||
| OTT 1957 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1957 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 2nd place in the IRFU with an 8–6 record but lost to the Montreal Alouettes in the East Semi-Final.-Preseason:-Standings:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:... |
1957 1957 in Canadian football -Canadian Football News in 1957:The Canadian Football Council allowed interference to be legal up to third 5-yard stripe by eligible blockers.The 45th annual Grey Cup game was televised live from coast to coast in Canada for the first time... |
8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 2nd in IRFU | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | ||
| OTT 1958 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1958 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 3rd place in the IRFU with an 6–8 record but lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Finals. This was also the Rough Riders' first season in the Canadian Football League as the league was formed in this year.... |
1958 1958 CFL season The 1958 CFL season was the fifth season in modern Canadian professional football, although officially it would become known as the inaugural season of the Canadian Football League .-CFL news in 1958:... |
6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 3rd in IRFU Division | 1 | 2 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| OTT 1959 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1959 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 2nd place in the East division with an 8–6 record but lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Finals.-Preseason:-Standings:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:... |
1959 1959 CFL season The 1959 CFL season was the sixth season in modern Canadian professional football, although officially it was the second season of the Canadian Football League.-Final regular season standings:... |
8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 2nd in East Division | 2 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| OTT 1960 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1960 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 2nd place in the East division with a 9–5 record and won the Grey Cup.-Preseason:-Standings:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Grey Cup:-Passing:-Awards and honours:... |
1960 1960 CFL season The 1960 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 7th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 3rd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1960:... |
9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 2nd in East Division | 4 | 0 | Won Grey Cup 58th Grey Cup The 58th Grey Cup was played on November 28, 1970 before 32,669 fans at Exhibition Stadium at Toronto. The Montreal Alouettes defeated the Calgary Stampeders 23 to 10... |
||
| OTT | 1961 1961 CFL season The 1961 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 8th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 4th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1961:... |
8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 2nd in East Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | ||
| OTT | 1962 1962 CFL season The 1962 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 9th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 5th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1962:The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was established in Hamilton.... |
6 | 7 | 1 | .464 | 2nd in East Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | ||
| OTT | 1963 1963 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:... |
9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 2nd in East Division | 2 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| OTT | 1964 1964 CFL season The 1964 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 7th Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:... |
8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | 2nd in East Division | 2 | 1 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| OTT | 1965 1965 CFL season The 1965 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 12th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 8th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1965:... |
7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 2 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| OTT | 1966 1966 CFL season The 1966 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 13th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 9th Canadian Football League season .-CFL news in 1966:... |
11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 1st in East Division | 2 | 1 | Lost Grey Cup 54th Grey Cup The 54th Grey Cup was hosted at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia on November 26, 1966. The Saskatchewan Roughriders won their first Grey Cup after 53 years of competition for this trophy, losing eight times in the game itself, but defeating on this day with Eagle Keys as head coach the... |
||
| OTT | 1967 1967 CFL season The 1967 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 14th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 10th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1967:... |
9 | 4 | 1 | .679 | 2nd in East Division | 1 | 2 | Lost in Division Finals | ||
| OTT 1968 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1968 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 1st place in the East division with a 9–3–2 record and won the Grey Cup.-Preseason:-Standings:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Grey Cup:-Passing:-Awards and honours:... |
1968 1968 CFL season The 1968 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 15th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 11th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1968:J.G... |
9 | 3 | 2 | .714 | 1st in East Division | 2 | 1 | Won Grey Cup 56th Grey Cup 56th Grey Cup was played November 30, 1968, and the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Calgary Stampeders 24 to 21 before 32,655 fans at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium... |
||
| OTT 1969 Ottawa Rough Riders season The 1969 Ottawa Rough Riders finished in 1st place in the East division with a 11–3 record and won the Grey Cup, repeating as Grey Cup Champions. Russ Jackson retired from the Canadian Football League after this game, having won three Grey Cup championships... |
1969 1969 CFL season The 1969 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 16th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it was officially the 12th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1969:... |
11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 1st in East Division | 2 | 1 | Won Grey Cup 57th Grey Cup 57th Grey Cup, the Canadian Football League's championship game, was played November 30, 1969 and the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 29 to 11 before 33,172 fans at Montreal's Autostade.-Box Score:First Quarter... |
||
| OTT Total | 116 | 75 | 5 | .605 | 3 East Division Championships |
19 | 16 | 3 Grey Cups | |||
| Total | 147 | 106 | 7 | .579 | 3 East Division Championships |
27 | 19 | 5 Grey Cups | |||