OUA to rename football MVP award in honour of late Mustangs coach

Burlington, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce that the conference's most valuable football player award is being officially renamed to the Larry Haylor Award in honour of the late Western Mustangs coaching icon.

"We are honoured to have the OUA name this award after our dad and husband," said the Haylor family. "He was passionate about his role in developing student-athletes within the OUA football community. We are certain he would be honoured and humbled to receive this recognition. It's a wonderful tribute to our dad and husband's legacy."



A native of Prince Albert, Sask., Haylor was a staple in the varsity football arena, whether he was under centre as a student-athlete for the University of Saskatchewan or manning the sidelines for the perennial powerhouse from London.

His coaching tenure, while filled with Western-centric accolades, also featured stops as an assistant coach with his alma mater, as well as offensive co-coordinator for the Dalhousie Tigers. Prior to wrapping up the season with the latter, however, he made his way to London to take on the role of offensive coordinator for the Mustangs, a move that then led to his legendary career on the sidelines.

Prior to retiring from coaching in 2006, the historic coach amassed an impressive résumé with Western. He racked up 185 wins with the purple and white, which at the time was a record within the varsity football ranks, and he had a trophy case to match that illustrious total. He led his team to eight Yates Cup wins as the OUA's top team to go along with a pair of Vanier Cup titles in 1989 and 1994. He was also named the conference's coach of the year on seven occasions, while also proceeding to claim that same accolade twice at the national level.

"Larry was a successful coach, educator, and mentor to so many student-athletes," said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall, who took over on the sidelines following Haylor's retirement from coaching. "He taught more than just football, he taught life lessons about the importance of preparation, to challenge yourself, and to 'dare to be great'. He taught by example and was an outstanding role model to the young men he coached. His integrity, honesty, and work ethic were inspiring. He was so much more than a successful football coach; he was a great friend, husband, father, and grandfather."



Following his departure from the sidelines, Haylor didn't venture too far from the team, as he made his way to the broadcast booth to provide commentary for Mustangs football on Newstalk 1290 CJBK.

He was later recognized as an inductee into the London Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and followed suit in 2014 when he was welcomed into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Beyond his ties to the university gridiron, Haylor was also a member of the Canadian Amateur Football Association National Sport Research Committee and was actively involved with the Special Olympics movement.

Finished Marshall, "This award is a fitting tribute and will honour his legacy and commitment to building the sport of football in the OUA."



The first recipient of the newly named Larry Haylor Award will be announced at the 2022 OUA Football Awards Luncheon on November 10.