Ralph Sazio
Ralph Joseph Sazio (July 22, 1922 – September 25, 2008) was a football player, assistant coach, head coach general manager and team president for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He also served as president of the Toronto Argonauts. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1998) as a builder.
| Born: | July 22, 1922 Avellino, Italy |
|---|---|
| Died: | September 25, 2008 (aged 86) Burlington, Ontario, Canada |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Offensive tackle |
| College | College of William and Mary |
| High school | Columbia High School |
| NFL draft | 1947 / Round: 28 / Pick: 258 (By the Pittsburgh Steelers) |
| Career history | |
| As administrator | |
| 1968–1975, 1980 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (GM) |
| 1972–1977 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (President) |
| 1978–1980 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (VP) |
| 1981–1990 | Toronto Argonauts (President) |
| As coach | |
| 1950–1962 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Asst.) |
| 1963–1967 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| As player | |
| 1948 | Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) |
| 1950–1953 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Awards | Annis Stukus Trophy (1964) |
| Career stats | |
Sazio was born in Avellino, Italy and played high school football at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey.[1] He played college football at the College of William and Mary and played for the AAFC's Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948.
Career
Ralph Sazio was a mainstay of the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a player, assistant coach, head coach, general manager and team president.
His major contribution was as the Tiger-cats' head coach from 1963 to 1967, winning three Grey Cup championships during that span. He retired from coaching in 1967 as the most successful Tiger-Cat head coach to date in terms of championships (3) and winning percentage.
He later served as Toronto Argonauts team president from 1981 to 1990.
He was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1998 in the builder category. He died in 2008.[2]
Coaching record
- Overall: 60-24-1 (.712)
- Regular Season: 49-20-1 (.707)
- Playoffs: 11-4 (.733)
- 1 Grey Cup defeat (1964)
- 3 Grey Cups (1963, 1965, 1967)
References
- Richardson, William D. "COLLEAGUES HONOR STANFORD MENTOR; Shaughnessy Named 'Coach of the Year' in Poll Taken by the World-Telegram", The New York Times, December 20, 1940.
- "CFL legend Ralph Sazio dies". CBCSports.ca. 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-09-26.