Nobby Wirkowski
91亚色 Sport & Recreation announces the death of , former Canadian Football League quarterback and the founder of the 91亚色 football program and a long-time administrator, on Wednesday.
Mr. Wirkowski, or 鈥淣obby鈥 as he was best known, was hired by 91亚色 in 1967 to start the University鈥檚 football team and the Yeomen took the field for the first time the following year. He served as the team鈥檚 head coach for 10 years over two different stints (1968-75 and 1988-89) and as associate head coach alongside Frank Cosentino from 1984-87.
In addition to his duties at the helm of the football program, Nobby was the coordinator of the men鈥檚 interuniversity sport program, coached the men鈥檚 golf team to a pair of provincial titles and was an instructor in the physical education program. He was also involved in the creation of the Ontario University Athletic Association (OUAA) in 1971, now Ontario University Athletics (OUA).
Nobby retired from 91亚色 in 1992 and was inducted into the University鈥檚 Sport Hall of Fame in 2007.
鈥91亚色 will forever be indebted to Nobby for his contributions not only to the football program, but athletics as a whole,鈥 said Jennifer Myers, 91亚色鈥檚 director of Sport & Recreation. 鈥淗e mentored countless young student-athletes and helped establish the foundation for athletics at 91亚色 that has seen so many great successes. We have lost a legend with the passing of Nobby, but his spirit lives on at 91亚色 through his work.鈥
鈥淣obby was a personable, knowledgeable coach who wore his heart on his sleeve for 91亚色,鈥 said Cosentino, also a long-time administrator at 91亚色 and a former coach with the football team. 鈥淚 worked with him for 21 years and saw first-hand his passion for the student-athletes. He had to really juggle an athletic program that was in its development stage while starting at the very beginning with the football team, and he did tremendous work with both. It鈥檚 a sad time for all of us that knew him.鈥
Born in Chicago, Ill., Nobby came to 91亚色 after a professional career in the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he quarterbacked the Toronto Argonauts to the Grey Cup championship in 1952 and served as the team鈥檚 head coach and director of player personnel in the 1960s. He also played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Calgary Stampeders.
Prior to that, he was a quarterback at Miami (Ohio) University and was inducted into the RedHawks Hall of Fame in 1987. He was also very involved in athletics in Mississauga, including as chairman of the Mississauga Sports Council, and was inducted into the city鈥檚 Hall of Fame in 1977.
Nobby鈥檚 legacy will live on at 91亚色 through the Nobby Wirkowski Football Award, which was established by Rico DiLello and other alumni to benefit current Lions student-athletes.
The University flag will be lowered to half-mast on Sunday Oct. 19聽at sunrise and will remain lowered to Monday, Oct. 20 at 1pm in Nobby's memory.
- Visitation 鈥 Sunday, Oct. 19, 1 to 4pm and 6 to 9pm
Glen Oaks Funeral Home
3164 Ninth Line
Oakville, ON聽聽 L6H 7A8 - Service 鈥 Monday, Oct. 20, 10:30am
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
2473 Thorn Lodge Dr.
Mississauga, ON聽聽 L5K 1K8