Adam Rita

Last updated

Adam Rita
Barcelona Dragons (ELF)
AdamRita.jpg
Adam Rita at the Argos' practice facility on June 14, 2009.
Born: (1947-09-21) September 21, 1947 (age 76)
Kauai, Hawaii, U.S.
Career information
Position(s) Head coach
Career history
As administrator
1997–2002 BC Lions (GM)
2004–2010 Toronto Argonauts (GM)
As coach
1969–1976 Boise State Broncos (AC)
1977–1978 UNLV Rebels (AC)
1979–1982 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (AC)
1983–1988 BC Lions (OC)
1989 UBC Thunderbirds (HC)
1990 Toronto Argonauts (OC)
1991–1992 Toronto Argonauts (HC)
1993 Edmonton Eskimos (OC)
1994 Ottawa Rough Riders (HC)
1995 Memphis Mad Dogs (OC)
1996 Toronto Argonauts (OC)
1997–1998 BC Lions (HC)
2002 BC Lions (IHC)
2003 Toronto Argonauts (OC)
2012–2015 Trinity College School (AC/OC)
2012 Prague Panthers (HC)
2013–2014 Calanda Broncos (HC)
2016–2019 Clarkson Secondary School (OC)
2017–2019 Bergamo Lions (HC/OC)
2019 Clarkson Secondary School (AC)
2020 Berlin Adler (HC)
2021 Barcelona Dragons (ELF) (HC)
2022-present Bergamo Lions (HC)
Career highlights and awards
As coach
As executive

Adam Rita (born September 21, 1947) is a gridiron football coach & general manager, most notably in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has served as the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manager of the Lions and Argonauts. Since leaving the CFL in 2012, Rita has been coaching American football in Europe. Coaching the Bergamo Lions in the Italian Football League (IFL), Calanda Broncos in Switzerland, Prague Panthers in Czech, Berlin Adler Germany, Barcelona Dragons in Spain, in the newly formed European League of Football (ELF) in 2021 and returned again to the Bergamo Lions in 2022.

Contents

College playing career

From 1965 to 1968, Rita attended Boise State University playing center for the Boise State Broncos. [1]

NCAA coaching career

From 1969 to 1976, Rita continued his tenure with the Boise State Broncos, serving as an assistant coach & recruiting director. After leaving Boise State, Rita's U.S. college coaching stints continued with the UNLV Rebels & Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.

Coaching & GM career in Canadian football

In 1983, Rita began his first professional coaching tenure as the offensive co-ordinator for the B.C. Lions under head coach Don Matthews. [2]

In 1989, Rita left the CFL to join the coaching staff of the UBC Thunderbirds of CIAU football.

In 1990, Rita rejoined Matthews in Toronto as offensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts. In 1991, after Matthews' departure, Rita became a first time CFL head coach for the Argonauts with whom he won his first and only Grey Cup championship as a head coach in that same year. In September 1992, after a 3–8 start to the season, Rita was fired as Argonauts head coach.

In 1993, Rita joined the Edmonton Eskimos as their offensive coordinator. The team went on to win the 81st Grey Cup that year.

In 1994, Rita became the head coach of the Ottawa Rough Riders. The team went on to finish their season with a 4-14.

In 1995, Rita resigned as the Rough Riders' head coach to become the offensive coordinator for one of the new U.S. expansion teams in the CFL, the Memphis Mad Dogs. [3]

In 1996, Rita reunited with Matthews, rejoining the Argonauts as their offensive coordinator in 1996. The team would go on to win the 84th Grey Cup that year.

In 1997, Rita joined the B.C. Lions as both their new head coach and general manager. In 1998, Rita relinquished his head coaching responsibilities halfway through the season, focusing exclusively on his general manager duties. In 2002, after six games into the season, Rita took over as their interim head coach.

In 2003, Rita returned to the Toronto Argonauts as their offensive coordinator serving under head coach Pinball Clemons who he used to coach. In 2004, Rita was promoted to General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations of the Argonauts. Toronto won the 92nd Grey Cup in his first year on the job, but managed only a 48–60 record after that. Rita's contract was not renewed following the 2010 season and he was replaced by head coach Jim Barker. [4]

During his CFL tenure, Rita won 6 Grey Cups in 8 appearances in his capacities as head coach, offensive coordinator, and general manager.

In 2012, Rita retired from the CFL and turned to high school football coaching, becoming an assistant coach & offensive coordinator with the Trinity College School football team in Port Hope, Ontario. [5] [6]

In 2016, Rita moved from Trinity College School to the "Football North" program at Clarkson Secondary School in Mississauga as their assistant coach and offensive coordinator. [6] [7] In 2019, Rita was elevated to assistant head coach.

Coaching career in Europe

Rita discovered Europlayers which serves as a job website for European sports. [8] This led to his first European coaching job in 2012 as the head coach for the Prague Panthers in the Czech Republic, where the team finished as Czech league runner up losing in the Czech Bowl championship game. The Panthers also competed in the Austrian Football League top level.

In 2013–14, Rita served as the head coach of the Calanda Broncos in Switzerland Nationalliga A (American football) winning the Swiss Bowl championship in 2013 and finishing runner up losing in the Swiss bowl in 2014. The team also competed in the European Football League.

In 2017–19, Rita served as the head coach and offensive coordinator of the Bergamo Lions of the Italian Football League IFL. [9]

In 2020, Rita was named as the new head coach for the Berlin Adler of the German Football League 2. [10] Unfortunately, the 2020 season was not played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Rita was named as the first ever head coach for the Spanish-based team Gladiators Football, later rebranded as Barcelona Dragons, of the newly formed European League of Football. [11]

In 2022, Rita returned to the Bergamo Lions in Italy as head coach. The 2022 Lions are competed in the second tier of the Italian League. The Lions qualified to return to the highest level league in Italy (IFL) for the 2023 season.

Personal life

Rita grew up on Kaua'i, Hawai'i and as a young boy, he was a member of a canoe club and appeared paddling a canoe in the wedding scene of the Elvis Presley movie Blue Hawaii .

Rita is married to his wife Judit who is from Hungary. [12] [8] He also has two sons, Kevin and Harrison, and two grandchildren, Seth and Jennifer. [13] As of 2020, Rita and his wife reside in Mississauga, Ontario. [12]

CFL GM record

TeamYearRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostResult
BC 1997 8100.4444th in West Division01Lost in East Semi-Final
BC 1998 990.5003rd in West Division01Lost in West Semi-Final
BC 1999 1350.7501st in West Division01Lost in West Final
BC 2000 8100.4443rd in West Division30Won Grey Cup
BC 2001 8100.4443rd in West Division01Lost in West Semi-Final
BC 2002 1080.7503rd in West Division01Lost in West Semi-Final
TOR 2003 990.5002nd in West Division11Lost in East Final
TOR 2004 1071.5882nd in East Division30Won Grey Cup
TOR 2005 1170.6111st in East Division01Lost in East Final
TOR 2006 1080.5562nd in East Division11Lost in East Final
TOR 2007 1170.6111st in East Division01Lost in East Final
TOR 2008 4140.2223rd in East Division--Failed to Qualify
TOR 2009 3150.1674th in East Division--Failed to Qualify
TOR 2010 990.5003rd in East Division11Lost in East Final
Total1221281.4883 Division
Championships		9102 Grey Cups

CFL coaching record

TeamYearRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostResult
TOR 1991 1350.7221st in East Division20Won Grey Cup
TOR 1992 380.2734th in East Division––Fired Midseason
OTT 1994 4140.2224th in East Division01Lost in East Semi-Final
BC 1997 8100.4444th in West Division01Lost in Division Semifinals
BC 1998 260.2504th in West Division––Resigned Midseason
BC 2002 930.7503rd in West Division01Lost in Division Semifinals
Total40460.4651 Division
Championships		231 Grey Cup

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BC Lions</span> Canadian Football League team

The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place.

Donald J. Matthews, a.k.a. "the Don", was a head coach of several professional football teams, mostly in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won 231 games in the CFL, the second highest win total by a head coach in the league's history while leading four teams to Grey Cup victories. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in September 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike O'Shea (Canadian football)</span> Canadian Football League head coach

Michael O'Shea is the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a former Canadian football linebacker and former special teams coordinator of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL from 2010 to 2013, winning the Grey Cup in 2012. O'Shea played 16 seasons in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts from 1993 to 2008. He retired second all-time in career tackles with 1,154 and is one of only three players to record over 1,000 tackles. He won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 1999 after recording 84 tackles, 13 special teams tackles and three interceptions that year. O'Shea is a three-time Grey Cup champion as a player, having won all three with the Argonauts in 1996, 1997, and 2004. He is also a two-time Grey Cup winning head coach, having won with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021; O'Shea also won the Grey Cup previously as a special teams coach with the Toronto Argonauts in the 100th Grey Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Dickenson</span> American gridiron football coach and former player

David Dickenson is an American professional football head coach and general manager for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played as a quarterback with the Stampeders and the BC Lions, where he won the 2006 Grey Cup and was named the game's MVP. Dickenson played college football for the Montana Grizzlies, where he led the team to the 1995 NCAA Division I-AA college football championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wally Buono</span> Canadian football league player and coach

Pasquale "Wally" Buono is a Canadian ex-football coach currently working as the vice president of football operations, alternate governor and the former head coach of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and one of the most successful head coaches in league history. He has spent 22 years as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and the Lions, which is tied for the most seasons coached all-time. On September 19, 2009, Buono became the CFL's all-time winningest coach when his Lions beat the Toronto Argonauts 23–17, giving him 232 regular-season victories, passing Don Matthews. He retired in 2011 with a CFL record 254 regular-season wins as head coach, to focus on duties as general manager for the Lions. In 2016, Buono came out of retirement to coach the Lions again through the 2018 season. In the final home game of the 2018 season, Buono was honored with the Bob Ackles Award as he was retiring from football with the most wins as a coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarious Jackson</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1977)

Jarious K. Jackson is an American professional football coach and former player who is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also been a coach for the Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and BC Lions. Jackson played professionally as a quarterback in the CFL for eight seasons with the Lions and one year with the Argonauts where he won three Grey Cup championships in 2006, 2011, and 2012. He has also been a member of the Denver Broncos (NFL), to whom he was drafted 214th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, and the Barcelona Dragons. Jackson played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

John Coleman Hufnagel is a special advisor for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has previously served as the Stampeders' President, General Manager, Head Coach, and Offensive Coordinator. He played quarterback for fifteen professional seasons in the CFL and National Football League (NFL). Prior to his hiring to the Stampeders on December 3, 2007, he was the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Trestman</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1956)

Marc Marlyn Trestman is a Canadian football and American football coach. He led the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) to back-to-back Grey Cup victories in 2009 and 2010, and another as head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 2017. He was also named CFL Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2017.

Steve Buratto is a Canadian football coach and former offensive lineman. He is the offensive coordinator for the UBC Thunderbirds football team. He is also a former head coach in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions, the latter of which he won the 88th Grey Cup with.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Barker</span> Canadian football coach (born 1956)

James Barker is a football executive and coach. He is currently employed by TSN as a CFL panelist. His most recent employment in Canadian football was a senior advisor for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Barker has been the general manager of the Calgary Stampeders from 2005–07, and the Argonauts from 2011-2016. He was also the head coach of the Argonauts in 1999, with the Stampeders in 2003, and then again with the Argos in 2010-11. He has also been a sports analyst for the CFL on TSN. Barker has also served as a football operations consultant and assistant coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is a four-time Grey Cup champion having won twice as an assistant coach and twice as a football administrator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Stubler</span> American football coach (1949–2023)

Richard Stubler was an American football coach, primarily in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was most recently an assistant coach for the Toronto Argonauts. He is a five-time Grey Cup champion, all as a defensive coordinator, and was formerly the head coach of the Argonauts. He has been coaching since the 1970s and has coached at the high school level, NCAA, Arena Football League and the CFL.

Gregory R. Mohns was a football executive and coach who served as the assistant general manager and director of player personnel of the Toronto Argonauts until February 19, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacques Chapdelaine</span>

Jacques Chapdelaine is a Canadian football coach and former professional slotback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He most recently served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He has also served as the offensive coordinator for four other CFL teams, the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes (2016-17), and the head coach for two Canadian university football teams. He has won three Grey Cup championships as an assistant coach and one Vanier Cup as the head coach of the Laval Rouge et Or. He played collegiately for the Simon Fraser Clan as a wide receiver and played between 1983 and 1989 for four different CFL teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Bell (gridiron football)</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1985)

Joshua Paul Bell is an American professional football defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played defensive back for nine years in the National Football League (NFL) and the CFL. He was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Baylor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Chamblin</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1977)

Corey Jermaine Chamblin is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He was previously the defensive backs coach for the San Antonio Brahmas. He is a former professional gridiron football defensive back and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Tennessee Tech. As a player, Chamblin has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Rhein Fire, and Indianapolis Colts.

The 2012 CFL season was the 59th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 55th season for the Canadian Football League. The pre-season began on June 13, 2012, and the regular season started on June 29, 2012. Rogers Centre in Toronto hosted the 100th Grey Cup on November 25, with the hometown Toronto Argonauts defeating the Calgary Stampeders 35-22.

The 2013 CFL season was the 60th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 56th season of the Canadian Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Campbell</span> Professional Canadian football coach

Rick Campbell is an American-Canadian professional football head coach and co-general manager for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was the Calgary Stampeders' defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2013 and was also an assistant coach with the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He then served as the head coach for the Ottawa Redblacks for six seasons. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion, once as the special teams coordinator with the Eskimos in 2003, again with the Eskimos as the defensive coordinator in 2005, and once as the head coach of the Redblacks in 2016. He attended Washington State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Condell</span> Professional Canadian football coach

Thomas Condell is a professional Canadian football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a Grey Cup champion having won as an assistant coach with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017. He played college football as a wide receiver for the Lock Haven Bald Eagles and Cortland Red Dragons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Sweet</span> American gridiron football coach

Kris Sweet is a professional gridiron football coach who is the offensive line coach for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Dave (July 11, 1991). "Sports of The Times; At Last! The Rocket Is Sighted (Published 1991)". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ [usurped]
  3. ↑ "CFL: Adam Rita Jumps To Memphis Mad Dogs (1995)". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  4. ↑ "Argos' Coach Barker Adds General Manager Role; Rita Out". TSN.ca. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Grey Cup-winning coach adds talents to TCS football squad | Trinity College School". www.tcs.on.ca.
  6. 1 2 "Veteran CFL Head Coach Adam Rita Returns To Europe With Italy's Bergamo Lions". American Football International. August 17, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Coaches". clarksonfootballnorth.ca.
  8. 1 2 "Adam Rita continuing passion for coaching in retirement". May 30, 2020.
  9. ↑ "COACH LIONS | LIONS BERGAMO". Archived from the original on July 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Neuer Headcoach - AFC Berlin Adler e.V." Archived from the original on July 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Long-time CFL coach, GM Adam Rita named head coach of new Spanish team". February 14, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Dan Ralph. "Former CFL coach/GM Rita feeling sad for Italy's COVID-19 pandemic anguish". The Chronicle-Journal. The Canadian Press.
  13. ↑ Sports, KSMG. "Former CFL GM and Head Coach Adam Rita Joins KSMG Football Team". Bleacher Report.
Awards
Preceded by Grey Cup winning Head Coach
79th Grey Cup, 1991		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.