Dinos hand coaching reins to Wayne Harris, Jr.
CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinosdidn’t have to go far to find their next head footballcoach.
Athletic Director Ron Wuotila announced Thursday that WayneHarris, Jr. will become the sixth head coach in University ofCalgary history, bringing full circle a career and a life that hasbeen associated with Dinos Football.
For nearly 40 years, Harris has been involved with the Dinos asa player, alumnus, assistant coach, and most recently defensivecoordinator. He has been involved as an assistant coach in threeseparate stints between 1989 and 2014, being part of seven HardyCup championship teams and the 1995 Vanier Cup triumph.
“The tradition of excellence within the University ofCalgary football program allows for success between staff, theuniversity, the athletic department, and the 5th Quarterassociation,” said Harris. “My immediate role with theteam as the head coach of the football program will be to ensureacademic success of our players, ensure current players begin theiroff-season training and most importantly support recruiting. I amextremely confident the Dinos football program will continue toachieve excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in thecommunity.”
“I am thrilled to announce Wayne as our next footballcoach,” said Wuotila. “Wayne has committed a lifetimeto football and the Dinos, and there is no doubt that he is theright man to lead this talented group of student-athletes andcoaches.”
The son of Calgary Stampeders legend Wayne Harris, Sr., Harrisstarred as a two-sport athlete for the Dinos from 1977-81 in bothfootball and wrestling. He was a three-time Canada West all-star atlinebacker and added a conference wrestling title in 1980. He spentfour seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Stampeders,B.C. Lions, and Toronto Argonauts before retiring in 1984, when hejoined the Calgary Board of Education.
Over the course of his coaching career with the Dinos, Harrishas been part of seven Hardy Cup championship teams andparticipated in four Vanier Cups, including the 1995 championshipseason under former head coach Peter Connellan. In 2006, Harrisreceived the Gino Fracas Award recognizing the top volunteer coachin CIS football, and in 2014 he received the Distinguished AlumniAward from the Dinos Fifth Quarter Association in recognition ofnearly four decades of involvement with the program.
He has been the Dinos’ defensive coordinator for the pastfour seasons and was head coach of the Calgary Colts from 1991-93.He also spent 25 years as a coach in Calgary high school footballat Sir Winston Churchill, Henry Wise Wood, and William Aberhart.His son, James, played as a linebacker for the Dinos in themid-2000s.
The Dinos will be back on the field for spring camp at McMahonStadium April 29-May 3.
University of Calgary Dinos
FOOTBALL HEAD COACHES
Dr. Dennis Kadatz (1964-68)
Mike Lashuk (1969-76, 1978-82)
Peter Connellan (1977, 1983-90, 1992-95)
Tony Fasano (1991, 1995-2005)
Blake Nill (2006-14)
Wayne Harris, Jr. (2015- )
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