Former Mustangs football head coach Larry Haylor was among the honourees lauded by the Canadian Interuniversity Sport for his leadership and contribution to university athletics.
Haylor, joined by sportswriter Howard Tsumura and long-time director of athletics Robert Dubeau, was presented an award at the CIS annual general meeting June 10 held in Gatineau, Que.
Haylor is the recipient of the Jean-Marie De Koninck Coaching Excellence Award, presented since 2007 to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to university sport as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as a coach at the local, provincial national and/or international levels of Canadian university sport.
“We are indebted to this year’s award winners for the outstanding contributions they have made to university sport over the years,” said CIS president Dick White. “They have had a profound and indelible impact.”
Haylor is the winningest head coach in CIS football history. He ended his reign at the helm of Western’s Mustangs in November of 2006, with a career overall record of 178 wins, 47 losses and four ties – a mark many observers think will never be equalled.
A seven-time OUA coach of the year and a two-time recipient of the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS coach of the year (1990, 1998), Haylor started his career at Western in 1984 and went on to lead the Mustangs to 22 consecutive campaigns with a record of .500 or better. During his tenure, the Mustangs reached five national finals, claiming the Vanier Cup in 1989 and 1994, and played in 13 OUA title games, returning home with the Yates Cup on eight occasions.