CFL, Als mourn the loss of former coach Rod Rust

MONTREAL — The Canadian Football League and the Montreal Alouettes are mourning the loss of former head coach Rod Rust who passed away Tuesday.

In a statement released by the Alouettes, the club said:

“The Montreal Alouettes would like to offer their most sincere condolences to the members of Rod Rust’s family. The Alouettes former head coach passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 90.”

Rust, who coached on both sides of the border for more than 30 years, including a stint as the New England Patriots head coach in 1990, originally joined the Alouettes in 1973. Head coach Marv Levy then named Rust the team’s defensive coordinator, a position he held for three seasons, helping the Alouettes hoist the Grey Cup in 1974.”

The Webster City, IA native returned to Montreal in 1997 as the team’s linebacker coach for two seasons, prior to becoming the team’s defensive coordinator. He was named the Alouettes head coach in 2001 leading the team to a 9-2 start that year.”

Rust coached a total of seven CFL seasons and 22 years in the NFL.  He also head coached at the University of North Texas from 1967 to 1972 and oversaw the likes of ‘Mean’ Joe Greene.

More to come.