Dave “Tuffy” Knight

Dave (Tuffy) Knight’s canadian university football career began in 1966, when he was named head coach at Wilfrid Laurier (formerly Waterloo Lutheran) university after serving as an assistant for the 1965 season.

Knight spent 18 years at Wilfrid Laurier leading the Golden Hawks to Yates Cup victories in 1966, 1968, 1972, 1973, and 1978 and advanced to the Vanier Cup in 1966, 1972, and 1973. He was named CIAU coach of the year following the 1972 and 1979 seasons. After the 1983 season, Knight became player personnel director for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, a position he held from 1984 to 1988.

In 1989, Knight returned to coaching as head coach at the University of Waterloo. In his first season he turned a struggling program into a contender that posted a winning record for the first time in many seasons. For his efforts he was named CIAU coach of the year. In 1997, he led Waterloo to their first Yates Cup championship. Knight retired from the CIAU coaching ranks following the 1997 season as the most winning coach in CIAU history with 163 victories.

At the time of his retirement, Knight amassed an all-time coaching record of 163 wins, 79 losses, and 4 ties. He developed dozens of players and coaches who progressed to the CFL, among them fellow Hall of Fame member Paul Bennett.

He was inducted into Laurier’s Hall of Fame in 1986.

Career

Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Head Coach 1965 - 1983
	Director of Player Personnel for Toronto Argonauts 1984 - 1988
Waterloo Warriors Head Coach 1988 - 1997

Awards/Honours

• CIAU Coach of the Year
  1972, 1979, 1989