John Gregory (centre) was the Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach when they won the 1989 Grey Cup. (The Canadian Press file photo)

By CKOM News Staff

Former Riders head coach John Gregory dead at 84

Dec 12, 2022 | 1:54 PM

Former Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach John Gregory, who led the CFL team to the 1989 Grey Cup title, has died.

He was 84.

After a successful college coaching career in the United States, Gregory joined the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers as their offensive line coach in 1983.

Saskatchewan named him head coach in 1987 and he led the Green and White to an 11-7-0 record and a playoff berth in 1988. The following season, the Roughriders posted a 9-9-0 regular-season record, but upset the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos in the West Division playoffs.

“There was a good bond relationship between John and I when he was here,” Al Ford, the Roughriders’ general manager from 1989 to 1999, said Monday. “Our kids played together and he was a very emotional coach. That was, to his credit, something we really needed at that time.

Tariffs

Beck calls removal of counter-tariff measures 'cowardly' and 'tone deaf'

33m ago

preparations

Staff from gas stations, food stores, restaurants permitted to re-enter tri-communities early

Jun 11, 2025

lack of tourism could ruin businesses

NDP, Northern Sask. businesses concerned about province's support

Jun 11, 2025

“He got along very well with the players — he wasn’t buddy-buddy with them — but when he said something, they paid attention and that was important for the growth of the club at the time.”

After beating Calgary and Edmonton, the Roughriders knocked off the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-40 in the Grey Cup game, giving Saskatchewan its second CFL championship in franchise history.

“It had been a while since we had won a Grey Cup and you’re always the team on the prairies that no one respects,” Ford said. “To go have a Grey Cup championship for Saskatchewan and our great fans, it was an experience people involved with the club will never forget.

“He was emotional when he believed in something and he wasn’t hesitant about putting his stamp on the agreement or else he would fight to maintain players or maintain coaches. He was fun to work with because he was his own man and we got along real well together.”

Gregory was fired by the Roughriders early in the 1991 season and replaced by Don Matthews. Gregory left Saskatchewan with a 35-43-1 regular-season record.

He subsequently was hired by the Tiger-Cats, with whom he spent three-plus seasons. His Hamilton teams went 21-31-0 in the regular season during his tenure.

In 1995, Gregory was named the first head coach of the Arena Football League’s Iowa Barnstormers and the rest of his coaching career was spent in indoor leagues.

According to the Barnstormers, funeral services are to take place on Jan. 31 in Gastonia, N.C. The team said donations could be named in Gregory’s name to everykidsports.org or kidsportcanada.ca.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Britton Gray