Al Bruno

Al Bruno
Date of birth (1927-03-28)March 28, 1927
Place of birth West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Date of death October 5, 2014(2014-10-05) (aged 87)
Place of death Port Charlotte, Florida, USA
Career information
Position(s) End
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg)
College University of Kentucky[1]
High school West Chester High School
The Perkiomen School[1]
NFL draft 1951 / Round: 3 / Pick: 32
Career history
As administrator
1982–1983 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Director of Player Personnel)
1990 BC Lions (Head pro scout)
1991 Buffalo Bills (Scout)
As coach
1958–1960 London Lords (HC)
1962–1965 West Chester HS (PA) (HC)
1966–1967 Ottawa Rough Riders (assistant)
1968–1970 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (assistant)
1971–1981 Harvard (OC)
1983–1990 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (HC)
1994–1996 McMaster (HC)
As player
1952–1954 Toronto Argonauts
1954 Ottawa Rough Riders
1955–1956 Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1958–1960 London Lords
Career highlights and awards
Awards Annis Stukus Trophy (1986)
Honors Member of the Kentucky Athletics' Hall of Fame (2008)
Member of the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame (2008)
West Chester Henderson High School Hall of Fame (2004)

Albert P. "Al" Bruno (March 28, 1927 – October 5, 2014) was a gridiron football player, administrator, and coach who served as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1983 to 1990.

Early life

He was born in 1927 in West Chester, Pennsylvania.[1] A graduate of West Chester High School and The Perkiomen School, Bruno attended the University of Kentucky from 1948 to 1951. He played end on Kentucky Wildcats football team, played forward for the Wildcats basketball team, and was a member of the track team.[1]

In his senior season, Bruno caught 38 passes for 589 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named third-team All America by both AP and UPI. His single-season school record for receiving yards stood until 1964 and his single-season record for touchdown receptions held until 1998.[2]

Bruno played nine games during the Wildcats 1948–49 championship winning basketball season, averaging 2.2 points per game.[1]

Bruno is one of only three Wildcats to have played for Hall of Fame coaches Bear Bryant in football and Adolph Rupp in basketball.[2]

Playing career

Bruno was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1951 NFL Draft, but chose to play for the Toronto Argonauts instead. He played two seasons for the Argonauts, one game for the Ottawa Rough Riders, two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and three seasons with the London Lords before a serious knee injury ended his playing career.[2]

Coaching career

Bruno's coaching career began in 1958 a player-coach for the London Lords.[3] After his playing career ended, he returned to Pennsylvania to teach and coach football at his alma mater West Chester High School.[2]

In 1966 he returned to Canada as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Rough Riders.[4] He left the Riders in 1968 and joined the coaching staff of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[5] When head coach Joe Restic left to become head coach at Harvard, Bruno went with him to be the offensive coordinator.[6]

After 11 seasons as the Crimson's offensive coordinator, Bruno returned to Hamilton as Director of Player Personnel. In 1983, Bruno was named head coach after the firing of Bud Riley. The Tiger-Cats finished the season 2–1–1 and Bruno was given the coaching job permanently. Under Bruno's guidance, the Tiger-Cats appeared in the Grey Cup four times, winning one (1986).[7] He was placed on an indefinite leave of absence after suffering a mild heart attack during the 1987 season. Defensive Coordinator Ted Schmitz served as interim head coach for six games before Bruno returned. Bruno was fired 12 games into the 1990 season. At the time of his firing the Tiger-Cats had a 4–8 record and were on a five-game losing streak.[7]

After scouting for the BC Lions and the Buffalo Bills, Bruno was named the head coach of the New Mexico Rattlesnakes of the new Professional Spring Football League.[8] The PSFL folded before play began.

Bruno's final coaching job was at McMaster University, where he served as head coach from 1994 to 1996.[7] After his football career, Bruno and his wife, Marie, retired to Port Charlotte, Florida.[9]

Death

In October 2014, Bruno was admitted into a Port Charlotte hospital with kidney problems, after having lost one kidney several years prior. He died of heart failure at the hospital on October 5, 2014.[9]

Head coaching record

CFL

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
WonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Result
HAM1983 211.6673rd in East Division 1 1 Lost in East Final
HAM1984 691.4002nd in East Division 2 1 Lost Grey Cup
HAM1985 880.5001st in East Division 1 1 Lost Grey Cup
HAM1986 981.5292nd in East Division 2 1 Won Grey Cup
HAM1987 660.5003rd in East Division 0 1 Lost in East Semifinal
HAM1988 990.5003rd in East Division 0 1 Lost in East Semifinal
HAM1989 1260.6671st in East Division 1 1 Lost Grey Cup
HAM1990 480.334th in East Division 0 0 Fired
Total 56553.5051 Division Championship77 1 Grey Cup

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Al Bruno". Big Blue History.net. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Al Bruno – All American & Professional Football Star". Chester County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  3. ↑ Jim Proudfoot (November 2, 1985). "Bruno thought return to CFL wouldn't last". Toronto Star.
  4. ↑ "Branby Out, Al Bruno In With Riders". CP. January 12, 1966. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  5. ↑ "Gotta Joins Clair's Staff". CP. April 1, 1968. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  6. ↑ "Restic Names Four Staffers". AP. March 2, 1971. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  7. 1 2 3 Mary Ryan (January 8, 1998). "Been there, done that". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  8. ↑ "Transactions". The Baltimore Sun. January 17, 1992. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  9. 1 2 "Al Bruno brought Grey Cup to Hamilton in 1986". Hamilton Spectator. October 6, 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.