HUGH CAMPBELL DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD HONOURS JOHN HUFNAGEL
“Stampeders President and GM’s reign in Calgary has been synonymous with excellence” – CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie
CALGARY (November 21, 2019) – One of the most successful coaches and executives in Canadian Football League (CFL) history, John Hufnagel, has been honoured with the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award. Presented annually since 2006, the award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated great leadership and made significant contributions to the league.
“As a player, assistant coach, head coach, general manager and President, John Hufnagel has always a been a true leader,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. “This award not only honours all of his achievements, including five Grey Cup championships, but also highlights the incredibly high level of success that he has sustained in Calgary since taking the reigns of the football operations 11 years ago. His tenure atop the Stamps has been synonymous with excellence.”
Hufnagel’s CFL story began in 1976 when he arrived in Canada. He would go on to play quarterback for three teams – the Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers – over the next 12 years.
He served as the offensive co-ordinator in Calgary from 1990-96, helping to mold the wildly successful CFL careers of Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia. Following stints in the Arena Football League and the National Football League, he returned to Calgary in late 2007, launching a run of success marked by six Grey Cup appearances in 12 seasons, including three-consecutive from 2016-18 and a victory last year.
Hufnagel was the Stampeders’ head coach from 2008-2015, and currently serves as the team’s President and General Manager. Since 2008, Calgary has amassed a record of 159-60-2 – a winning percentage of over 72 per cent.
“By its very nature, sports are about wins and losses – climbing the mountain and, almost inevitably, tumbling back down it,” Ambrosie said. “But the Stampeders with John at the helm have lived at the peak, year after year after year. That success is a testament to everyone involved, but especially their great leader, John Hufnagel.”
The Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award honours its namesake’s years of service to Canadian football as a player, coach and executive. Past winners include legendary player, coach and general manager Wally Buono, Calgary and Edmonton star Norman Kwong, and BC Lions executive Bob Ackles.
The Shaw CFL Awards is one of the highlights of the 2019 Grey Cup Festival presented by Shaw. In addition to the awards, several ticketed events are on-sale now. Additional event details, dates and purchasing information can be found at GreyCupFestival.ca.
Tickets, as low as $150, are on sale now for the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium on Sunday, November 24, featuring Keith Urban in the Freedom Mobile Grey Cup Halftime Show. For more information, click here.