Hamilton TigerCats

[SteelTown]

Report: O'Billovich to be Tiger-Cats' GM
TSN - The Sports Network

12/4/2007

It appears it will be up to Bob O'Billovich to turn things around in Hamilton.

According to CKNW Radio in Vancouver, O'Billovich will be announced as the new general manager of the Tiger-Cats on Wednesday.

The report indicates that, as late as Tuesday morning, O'Billovich was content to stay with the Lions as Player Personnel Director but the Tiger-Cats apparently sweetened the offer later in the day and lured the 25-year veteran away.

O'Billovich would replace Marcel Desjardins, who was fired after his first season with the Ticats, which resulted in a dismal 3-15 record.

Last month, media reports indicated the Tiger-Cats had reached out to Adam Rita of the Toronto Argonauts and Brendan Taman of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but were not granted permission to talk to these candidates.

O'Billovich began his CFL career as a player in 1963 and then moved into the coaching ranks with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1974.

In 1982, he took over the reigns of the Argonauts and went on to become the team's all-time leader in coaching wins, earning Coach of the Year honours twice and capturing the Grey Cup in 1983.

O'Billovich then spent three years with the Lions before returning to the Argonauts in 1993 as general manager and head coach. He went back with the Lions in 2003.