Leo Cahill


Leo Cahill was a Canadian head coach and general manager in the Canadian Football League, much of it spent with the Toronto Argonauts.

Early life

Cahill was born on July 30, 1928 in Utica, Illinois and later attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship. He appeared as a player in the 1947 Rose Bowl.
After leaving college, Cahill served in the United States Army during the Korean War.

Career

Following his honourable discharge from the U.S. Army, Cahill ascended the coaching ranks through various colleges, including his alma mater.
He began his Canadian Football League career in the 1960s as an assistant coach with the Montreal Alouettes before moving to Toronto with the then Toronto Rifles of the Continental Football League.
He was appointed head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 1967, retaining the position until 1972, returning again in the 1977 and 1978 seasons.
He would later serve as General Manager for the team from 1986 to 1988.
In his time with the Argonauts he was credited with bringing in such greats such as Mel Profit, Jim Stillwagon, Jim Corrigall, Leon McQuay and Joe Theismann. Cahill was also the general manager for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1996; he was the team's last GM in their 120-year history as they folded at the end of the season.
From 2004 onward, Cahill served as goodwill ambassador for the Argonauts. He also served as a colour commentator for CFL telecasts on CBC between 1981 and 1985.
Cahill was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 in recognition of his contributions to the Argonauts franchise.

Death

Leo Cahill died at an Atlanta hospital on February 15, 2018 at the age of 89, and is survived by five children: Steve, Christy, Terry, Lisa and Bettye.