Ronald Lancaster

Lancaster, Ronald

Ronald Lancaster, football player, coach (b at Fairchance, Pa 14 Oct 1938; d at Hamilton, Ont 18 September 2008). He quarterbacked the OTTAWA ROUGH RIDERS from 1960 with Russ JACKSON and was later traded to Saskatchewan (1963-78). In his 19-year playing career Lancaster completed 3384 passes for 50 535 yards and 333 touchdowns. He set 30 Canadian Football League records, was twice selected the outstanding player in the country, and 17 times led his team into the playoffs (and to 2 Grey Cup wins).

Ron Lancaster's quick, analytic play and determination earned him the nicknames "little general" and "little assassin"- he is 178 cm tall. After a brief tenure as head coach of the SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (1979-80), he became a popular colour commentator on CFL telecasts. He returned to the field in 1991 as head coach of the EDMONTON ESKIMOS, leading them to a Grey Cup victory in 1993.

Ron Lancaster joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on 26 November 1997 as Director of Football Operations and Head Coach (a position he held until 2003) and led them to subsequent Grey Cup appearances in 1998 - a last-second loss of 26-24 to the Calgary Stampeders - and in 1999 - a Grey Cup victory of 32-21 over the Stampeders. He was selected the CFL Coach of the Year in 1996 and 1998. He resumed his role as head coach briefly in 2006 following the firing of Greg Marshall. Lancaster retired altogether from coaching in 2007, working as a colour analyst and senior advisor for the Tiger-Cats until succumbing to lung cancer in 2008.