NAME: Brian Towriss
UNIVERSITY: Saskatchewan
CATEGORY: Coach
SPORT: Football
CW Hall of Fame Class of 2023-24
HIGHLIGHTS:
11 Hardy Cup victories
Canada West Coach of the Year - 7 times
CIS Coach of the Year - 1994
Vanier Cup Appearances - 9 (1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Vanier Cup Championships -3 (1990, 1996, 1998)
Canadian Football Hall of Fame - Class of 2017
BIOGRAPHY:
Since he first stepped on the field at Griffiths Stadium, the impact Brian Towriss has made on the University of Saskatchewan’s football program has been nothing short of legendary.
His story began as a student-athlete, as he suited up for the Huskies as a defensive tackle from 1974-77, being named a Conference All-Star in 1974. Once his playing days were over, he stepped into a coaching position where his leadership made an immediate impact on the team’s development.
He served as an assistant coach from 1979 to 1983, before assuming the role of head coach in 1984. It was the start of a remarkable 33 year run at the helm of the Huskies, with success coming at both the conference and national levels.
During his time as Head Coach he recorded 14 trips to the Hardy Cup title game, compiling a sparkling record of 11 wins and just three defeats. His teams went on to play in four Mitchell Bowls and four Churchill Bowls, winning them all.
On the national stage, he led the team to a remarkable nine Vanier Cup appearances, winning the national championship three times in 1990, 1996 and 1998.
As the years went on, the accolades piled up. He was selected as the Canada West Coach of the Year seven times and won CIS Coach of the Year in 1994. In 2007 he was awarded an Order of Merit from the Government of Saskatchewan for his dedication to the University of Saskatchewan football team. In 2017 he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and in 2019 he was awarded the prestigious Jean-Marie De Koninck Coaching Excellence Award by U SPORTS.
In all, Towriss coached 71 All-Canadians and helped 47 players advance into the CFL and one player into the NFL. Over the course of his dedicated coaching career, Towriss would patrol the sidelines for over 300 games, compiling a remarkable .622 winning percentage with a record of 196 wins, 118 losses and one tie. At the time of his retirement in 2017, he was the U SPORTS record holder for most wins as a head coach with 196.
He will forever be regarded as one of the greatest football coaches in Canada West history.
