Frank Clair

Frank Clair
Statue of Frank Clair in TD Place Stadium
Born:(1917-05-12)May 12, 1917
Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.
Died:April 3, 2005(2005-04-03) (aged 87)
Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)End
CollegeOhio State
Career history
As administrator
1970–1978Ottawa Rough Riders
As coach
1946Miami (OH) (assistant)
1947Purdue (ends)
1948–1949Buffalo
1950–1954Toronto Argonauts
1956–1969Ottawa Rough Riders
As player
1941Washington Redskins
Career highlights and awards
  • 5× Grey Cup champion (1950, 1952, 1960, 1968, 1969)
  • 2× Annis Stukus Trophy (1966, 1969)
Career stats

Frank James Clair (May 12, 1917 – April 3, 2005) was an American gridiron football player, coach, and executive. Nicknamed "the Professor" for his ability to recognize and develop talent, he served as a head coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Toronto Argonauts from 1950 to 1954 and the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1956 to 1969. Clair ranks third all-time in CFL history with 147 regular season wins and first in postseason victories with 27. He is also tied for the most Grey Cup championships won by a head coach with five. He won the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL's coach of the year in 1966 and 1969.

Playing career

Clair played end for the Ohio State Buckeyes, 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.

Coaching career

Clair found his greatest success in coaching. He was the head football coach at the University at Buffalo in 1948[1] and 1949.[2] During the 1950s, he coached the Toronto Argonauts to two Grey Cups in 1950[3] and 1952.[4]

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. He was let go by the team in 1978. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

The stadium at Lansdowne Park was renamed Frank Clair Stadium in his honour on April 8, 1993. He was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.[5] Clair lived in retirement at his home, and he died in Sarasota, Florida on April 3, 2005,[6] In 2014, the stadium was renamed TD Place, and the operators erected a statue of Clair in his honour.

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Buffalo Bulls (Independent) (1948–1949)
1948 Buffalo 6–1–1
1949 Buffalo 6–3
Buffalo: 12–4–1
Total: 12–4–1

CFL

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Result
TOR 1950 6 5 1 .542 2nd in IRFU 3 1 Won Grey Cup
TOR 1951 7 5 0 .583 3rd in IRFU 1 1 Lost in IRFU Semi-Finals
TOR 1952 7 4 1 .625 2nd in IRFU 4 1 Won Grey Cup
TOR 1953 5 9 0 .357 4th in IRFU - - Missed Playoffs
TOR 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 7 7 0 .500 3rd in IRFU 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
OTT 1957 8 6 0 .571 2nd in IRFU 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
OTT 1958 6 8 0 .429 3rd in IRFU Division 1 2 Lost in Division Finals
OTT 1959 8 6 0 .571 2nd in East Division 2 1 Lost in Division Finals
OTT 1960 9 5 0 .643 2nd in East Division 4 0 Won Grey Cup
OTT 1961 8 6 0 .571 2nd in East Division 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
OTT 1962 6 7 1 .464 2nd in East Division 0 1 Lost in Division Semi-Finals
OTT 1963 9 5 0 .643 2nd in East Division 2 1 Lost in Division Finals
OTT 1964 8 5 1 .607 2nd in East Division 2 1 Lost in Division Finals
OTT 1965 7 7 0 .500 2nd in East Division 1 2 Lost in Division Finals
OTT 1966 11 3 0 .786 1st in East Division 2 1 Lost Grey Cup
OTT 1967 9 4 1 .679 2nd in East Division 1 2 Lost in Division Finals
OTT 1968 9 3 2 .714 1st in East Division 2 1 Won Grey Cup
OTT 1969 11 3 0 .786 1st in East Division 2 1 Won Grey Cup
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

See also

  • List of Canadian Football League head coaches by wins

References

  1. ^ "1948 Buffalo Football," University at Buffalo Sports History Collection - January 29, 2014.
  2. ^ "1949 Buffalo Football," University at Buffalo Sports History Collection - May 8, 2014.
  3. ^ "Argonauts lay claim to legendary Mud Bowl". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  4. ^ "O'Connor's late score lifts Argos over Eskimos". CFL.ca. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "Frank Clair". oshof.ca. Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "CFL Legend Frank Clair passes". Esksfans.com. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
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