:Leo Cahill
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Leo Cahill
| team =
| nickname = Leo The Lip
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|07|30}}
| birth_place = Utica, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|02|15|1928|07|30}}
| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| coaching_years1 = 1953
| coaching_team1 = Illinois (freshman assistant)
| coaching_years2 = 1954–1955
| coaching_team2 = Lewis (line)
| coaching_years3 = 1956–1957
| coaching_team3 = Toledo (line)
| coaching_years4 = 1958–1959
| coaching_team4 = South Carolina (assistant)
| coaching_years5 = 1960–1964
| coaching_team5 = Montreal Alouettes (assistant)
| coaching_years6 = 1965–1966
| coaching_team6 = Toronto Rifles
| coaching_years7 = 1967–1972
| coaching_team7 = Toronto Argonauts
| coaching_years8 = 1977–1978
| coaching_team8 = Toronto Argonauts
| other_title = general manager
| other_years1 = 1974
| other_team1 = Memphis Southmen
| other_years2 = 1975
| other_team2 = Chicago Winds
| other_years3 = 1986–1988
| other_team3 = Toronto Argonauts
| other_years4 = 1996
| other_team4 = Ottawa Rough Riders
| career_highlights =
- Third-team All-American (1950)
| awards = Annis Stukus Trophy (1971)
| honours = Ontario Sports Hall of Fame (2013)
| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance = {{flagu|United States}}
| branch_label = Branch
| branch = United States Army
| battles = Korean War
| battles_label = Conflict }}
}}
Leo Cahill (July 30, 1928 – February 15, 2018) was an American head coach and general manager in the Canadian Football League (CFL), much of it spent with the Toronto Argonauts.
Early life
Cahill was born on July 30, 1928, in Utica, Illinois, and later attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship.{{cite news|first=Fred|last=Sherwin|publisher=The Canadian Press|date=February 16, 2018|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/leo-cahill-former-argos-head-coach-and-general-manger-dead-at-age-89/article38007425|title=Leo Cahill, former Argos head coach and general manger dead at age 89|access-date=February 17, 2018}} He appeared as a freshman in the 1947 Rose Bowl, but missed the following season due to injury. When he returned in 1948, he was moved from center to guard. He was on the northern roster for the 1950 Blue–Gray Football Classic.
Military service
Cahill served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He enlisted in February 1951 and served as a combat medic in Korea. In 1952, he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division and coached a division football team in Japan.{{cite news |last1=DeGeer |first1=Vern |title=Hard Work May Return Als To Top - Cahill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vY0tAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA30 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=May 11, 1961}}
Career
Following his honourable discharge in 1953, Cahill returned to his alma mater, where he earned his master's degree and served as an assistant freshman football coach. In 1954 and 1955 he was the line coach at Lewis College. In 1956, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Toledo.{{cite news |title=Morton, Cahill Signed To Coach Rocket Linemen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VZIAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA18 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Toledo Blade |date=February 23, 1956}} After two seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Cahill moved to the Canadian Football League in the 1960 as an assistant coach with the Montreal Alouettes.{{cite news |title=Assistant Coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W1ljAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA19 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix |date=March 2, 1960}} In 1965, he became head coach of the Toronto Rifles of the Continental Football League.{{cite news |title=Leo Cahill New Coach Of Rifles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4jI_AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA23 |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=The Windsor Star |date=May 5, 1965}} Under Cahill's leadership, the Rifles compiled a 20–8 record and won the Eastern Conference title in 1965.
Cahill was appointed head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 1967.{{cite news |title=Cahill new coach for Argonauts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pjdgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA22 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix |date=April 21, 1967}} In his first season as coach, Cahill led Toronto to its first playoff appearance since 1961. In 1971, he led the Argonauts to their first Grey Cup appearance in 19 years and won the league's coach of the year award. The following year, the Argos went 3–11 and missed the playoffs for the first time under Cahill. On November 9, 1972, Cahill was fired by Toronto Argonauts owner John W. H. Bassett.{{cite news |title=Cahill gets ticket after poor season |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jfJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA34 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Leader-Post |date=November 9, 1972}} Following his dismissal, Cahill wrote a book, Goodbye Argos, with sportswriter Scott Young that was critical of the Argonauts organization, specifically the team's board of directors and general manager John Barrow, as well as his former boss in Montreal, Jim Trimble, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats president Ralph Sazio, who he accused of interfering with his getting the Alouettes head coaching job in 1973.{{cite news |title=Cahill's book raps Barrow, Sazio, ect. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cE8xAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA19 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=September 10, 1973}}
In 1974, Cahill was named general manager of the Toronto Northmen of the World Football League, which were owned by Bassett's son, John F. Bassett.{{cite news |last1=Blackman |first1=Ted |title=Cahill casts lot with 'Brutus' to reach ambition as grid GM |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RZouAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA29 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=February 8, 1974}} Cahill and Bassett signed three of the Miami Dolphins top players – Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Paul Warfield. The team ending up moving to Memphis, Tennessee due to pressure from the federal government and became the Memphis Southmen.{{cite news |title=Cahill's big con land Csonka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8tYyAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA55 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=January 27, 1987}} In 1975, Cahill left Memphis to become GM of another WFL team – Chicago Winds.{{cite news |title=Southmen offer post to Storen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L_pMAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA7 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=Rome News-Tribune |date=August 3, 1975}} After the league folded, Cahill returned to Toronto as the chief operating officer of the North American Soccer League's Toronto Metros and also worked as a sports commentator for CHUM.{{cite news |title=Leo takes Argos oars once again |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rHFkAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA37 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Calgary Herald |date=December 20, 1976}}
On December 20, 1976, Cahill was rehired as head coach of the Toronto Argonauts.{{cite news |title=Argos' football future back in Cahill's hands |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K5YuAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=December 21, 1976}} He led Toronto to a 6–10 record in 1977 and was fired following a 3–6 start to the 1978 season.{{cite news |title=Argos' Cahill sets new CFL record by getting fired for a second time |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tVtVAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Leader-Post |date=September 11, 1978}}
In 1979, Cahill began working as a sports commentator for CFGM, a radio station in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1981, he and Ron Lancaster replaced Russ Jackson on CBC's coverage of the CFL.{{cite news |title=Cahill replaces Jackson, this time on the tube |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qIZVAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA17 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Leader-Post |date=April 21, 1981}}
In 1986, Cahill returned to the Argonauts a second time, this time as general manager. He was hired by team president Ralph Sazio, whom Cahill had an acrimonious relationship with. It was hoped that Cahill's hiring would help increase ticket sales for the struggling franchise and that as a media personality, he would be able to help with marketing as well as football operations.{{cite news |title='Leo the Lip' back with Boatmen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0VgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA93 |access-date=21 February 2024 |work=The Phoenix |date=December 11, 1985}} That year the Argos, led by quarterback J. C. Watts, finished first place in the East Division. In 1987, Watts left football due to his displeasure with Cahill. Following bitter contract negotiations, Watts stated that he would not "let incompetent, insecure people like Leo Cahill hold the key to my future; I won't let a fool like that intimidate me" and returned to his hometown of Oklahoma City, where he owned highway construction company, worked public relations for a high school, and was youth director of his church.{{cite news |last1=McRae |first1=Earl |title=Watts had enough of Cahill's abuse |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=July 16, 1987}} Toronto went 11–6–1 without Watts and played in that year's Grey Cup. Following the 1988 season, the team was purchased by Harry Ornest, who chose to retain Sazio and not renew Cahill's contract.{{cite news |title=Argos' new owner Ornest sacks GM Cahill |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=November 30, 1988}}
After leaving the Argonauts, Cahill worked as a leasing manager for Toronto auto firm, was a motivational speaker, and was a scouting consultant for the San Francisco 49ers. In 1996, he returned to the CFL as vice-president of operations for the Ottawa Rough Riders.{{cite news |last1=Mayoh |first1=Rick |title=Blast from Argo past for Rough Riders |work=Edmonton Journal |date=April 3, 1996}} In this role, Cahill oversaw football operations as well as marketing and public relations.{{cite news |last1=Mayoh |first1=Rick |title=Rough Riders expect Cahill to provide 'sizzle' to stagnant franchise |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=April 2, 1996}} The team folded at the end of the season.{{cite news |last1=York |first1=Marty |title=Unemployed Leo Cahill in dire need of money |work=The Globe and Mail |date=May 8, 1998}}
From 2004 onward, Cahill served as goodwill ambassador for the Argonauts.{{cite web|title=CFL, Argos Mourn the Passing of Legendary Coach Leo Cahill|author=Staff|date=February 16, 2018|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/cfl-argos-mourn-passing-legendary-coach-leo-cahill|publisher=CFL|access-date=February 17, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Former Toronto Argonauts Head Coach Leo Cahill Passes Away At Age 89|first=Dan|last=Ralph|publisher=CTV News|date=February 16, 2018|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/former-argos-head-coach-gm-leo-cahill-dead-at-age-89-1.3806918|access-date=February 17, 2018}}
Cahill was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 in recognition of his contributions to the Argonauts franchise.{{cite web |title=Leo Cahill |url=http://oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/122-leo-cahill |website=oshof.ca |publisher=Ontario Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228144608/http://www.oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/122-leo-cahill |url-status=dead }}
Death
Leo Cahill died at an Atlanta hospital on February 15, 2018, at the age of 89, and is survived by five children: Steve, Christy, Terry, Lisa and Bettye.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/leo-cahill-89-former-head-coach-and-showman-who-put-the-toronto-argonauts-back-on-the-map/article38109333/|title=Leo Cahill, 89: Legendary head coach and showman put the Toronto Argonauts 'back on the map'|access-date=19 March 2018|via=The Globe and Mail}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.cfl.ca/page/his_legends_cahill CFL.ca profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024244/http://www.cfl.ca/page/his_legends_cahill |date=2015-09-24 }}
- {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115060509/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Gross/2004/11/28/738621.html "Tribute to Leo may have ring to it"]}}
- {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20131209181216/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2011/05/10/18130291.html "The toughest fight of Leo Cahill's life"]}}
- [http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/toronto-argonauts-leo-cahill-has-eye-on-grey-cup/ "Argos’ legend Cahill has eye on 100th Grey Cup"]
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