Former Toronto Argonauts head coach Willie Wood passes away at age 83
TORONTO — Dan Ferrone says he owes all of his CFL success to Willie Wood.
Wood, a former head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, died Monday of natural causes in Washington D.C. He was 83.
Wood lasted less than two years as Argos head coach, but one of his decisions was to start Ferrone as a rookie guard in the 1981 season. The native of Oakville, Ont., not only went on to play 12 pro seasons — 11 with Toronto — but won two Grey Cups and was a five-time CFL all-star before being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
“I owe everything to Willie Wood,” Ferrone said. “He’s the reason why I got to play professional football, enjoy Grey Cups and become a Hall of Famer.