| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1951-05-11)May 11, 1951 Toronto,Ontario, Canada |
| Died | July 20, 2021(2021-07-20) (aged 70) Qualicum Beach,British Columbia, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 202 lb (92 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Wilfrid Laurier |
| CFL draft | 1976: 3rd round, 24th overall pick |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1976–1981 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 1982–1985 | Montreal Concordes |
Coaching | |
| 1988–1991 | Waterloo Warriors (HC) |
| 1992–2000 | Calgary Stampeders (AC) |
| 2001–2006 | McGill Redmen (HC) |
| 2007 | Calgary Stampeders (RC) |
| 2008–2021 | BC Lions (STC/RBC) |
| Awards and highlights | |
Charles McMann[1] (May 11, 1951 – July 20, 2021) was a Canadian professionalfootballrunning back who played 10 seasons in theCanadian Football League (CFL) for theMontreal Alouettes andMontreal Concordes. He went on to serve asspecial teams coordinator andrunning backs coach for theBC Lions. He was also the head coach of theWaterloo Warriors andMcGill Redmen ofCIS football, while being named theCIS Coach of the Year in 2002 with the latter. He won aGrey Cup championship in1977 as a player, before winning three more championships as a coach.
McMann was born inToronto on May 11, 1951.[2][3] He studied atWilfrid Laurier University, where he played football for theGolden Hawks from 1973 to 1976.[2][4] He was subsequently drafted by theMontreal Alouettes in the third round of the1976 CFL draft.[2][5]
McMann played for theMontreal Alouettes and its successorMontreal Concordes from 1976 to 1985. During this time, the franchise made three appearances in Grey Cup games and won the championship in1977.[2] He retired at the conclusion of the1985 season.[3]
After retiring as a player, McMann served as head coach of theWaterloo Warriors from 1988 until 1991.[2] He went on to join theCalgary Stampeders the following year. As part ofWally Buono's coaching staff, McMann won championship rings in1992 and1998. His first stint with the franchise came to an end after the2000 season.[5][6]
McMann became the head football coach atMcGill University in 2001, succeedingCharlie Baillie. TheRedmen won theDunsmore Cup during his first two seasons,[2] and he was conferred the CISFrank Tindall Trophy in 2002 as Canadian university football's coach of the year.[4] In October 2005, the university administration called off the team's final two games of the season, in response to substantiated reports that most players had engaged inhazing at the start of the academic year. McMann initially suspended one player for an indefinite period and five players for one game. He was dismayed by the decision to cancel the rest of the season. Although he sympathized with university's "need to make a strong statement", he felt that the players "ha[d] been punished enough".[7] Several former Redmen players demanded that McMann be dismissed. However, the university's interim athletic director said that firing McMann was never contemplated, given that he denied being aware of the hazing.[8]
Overall, the Redmen finished with an even 28–28 record and reached the playoffs five times during McMann's six seasons with the team.[4] McMann resigned in January 2007 with one more year remaining on his contract. He cited personal reasons, adding that he wanted to "spend more time coaching and less on administrative matters".[4] He later returned to the Stampeders that same month asreceivers coach,[9] before being released at the end of the season.[10]
McMann joined theBC Lions in 2008 as itsspecial teams coordinator andrunning backs coach, reuniting with Buono.[11][12] He won his fourth and final Grey Cup championship with the franchise in2011.[11] He retired at the end of the2015 season.[13]
McMann was married to Margaret until his death.[2] They resided inLangley, British Columbia, where he was a member of the WilloughbyChristian Reformed Church,[14] and she taught at Langley Christian High School. He brought the Grey Cup trophy to the school in January 2012, shortly after the Lions' victory the previous year.[15] They later moved toVancouver Island.[2]
McMann died at the age of 70 on July 20, 2021, after collapsing while riding his bike near his home on the Island.[2][5]