John Huard passes away

[Will]

https://goblackbears.com/news/2025/1/29 ... huard.aspx

[ArgoRavi]

https://goblackbears.com/news/2025/1/29 ... huard.aspx

Huard will be remembered for his tumultuous reign as Argos head coach but it shouldn't be forgotten that he had success in the Canadian university ranks as a head coach years before.

[primetime321]

https://goblackbears.com/news/2025/1/29 ... huard.aspx

Huard will be remembered for his tumultuous reign as Argos head coach but it shouldn't be forgotten that he had success in the Canadian university ranks as a head coach years before.

I believe that he won a national championship with Acadia in the early 80’s. He was even pegged to be the head coach of the Atlantic Schooners if they were ever established.

[paulwoods13]

The only time in my life I boycotted the Argos was August of 2000. I chose not to attend the home game against B.C. in protest of his horrible approach to the job of Argo head coach. As it turned out, that was the last game he coached, and Pinball embarked on his post-playing career (with all that eventually entailed) soon after.

[RichK]

The only time in my life I boycotted the Argos was August of 2000. I chose not to attend the home game against B.C. in protest of his horrible approach to the job of Argo head coach. As it turned out, that was the last game he coached, and Pinball embarked on his post-playing career (with all that eventually entailed) soon after.

That game may have been the low point in my many years as an Argo fan. I’ve never seen a team in any sport ever quit as completely as the Argos did that day. It was so bad we almost expected Huard to be fired at halftime (“Ladies and gentlemen, now coaching the Argonauts…”)

In honour of Mr. Huard’s memory Argos fans are encouraged to wear a bright red jacket.

[RB957]

I was not much of a fan of the Argos back then, but I seem to remember stories that were published about him and his coaching methods. I don't even know how much, if any of this is accurate, but I remember reading that he would wear something like a garbage bag or something similar during games, and that he made the players eat popsicles after the game. Don't know if anything of that is true, but for those who were more aware, I would be intrigued to hear some of those stories about how or why things went so far off the rails. Not to disparage him now that he has passed, but it's these types of stories about characters like him that make the CFL so interesting.

After his coaching career, if I am not mistaken, he had some success on the business side with a company that made astro turf.

[AngeloV]

He was a strange dude, and a terrible pro coach, but was successful in a lot of other aspects in his life.
May he Rest In Peace.

[shayman]

The only time in my life I boycotted the Argos was August of 2000. I chose not to attend the home game against B.C. in protest of his horrible approach to the job of Argo head coach. As it turned out, that was the last game he coached, and Pinball embarked on his post-playing career (with all that eventually entailed) soon after.

I'd love it if someone <cough> could write a book about that crazy era of Argos football, which at least gave us Pinball ascendant.

[paulwoods13]

I'd love it if someone <cough> could write a book about that crazy era of Argos football, which at least gave us Pinball ascendant.

It does meet my requirement of great (and weird) stories. That said, I have no plans to explore that era at book length although it might work its way into a different idea I've been kicking around.

[gilthethrill]

According to Statscrew, Huard spent 6 games as a LB with the Alouettes in 1973 along with many Montreal legends. Marv Levy was in his first year as a professional HC.