Kent Austin Joins Renegades
Published on February 25, 2003 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Ottawa Renegades News Release
OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Renegades are pleased to announce that former Canadian Football League all-star Kent Austin has accepted an opportunity to join the team's coaching staff. The Tennessee native, who ranks eighth on the all-time CFL passing list with 36,030 yards, will be responsible for overseeing the Renegades quarterbacks and the team's passing game. Austin, 39, lives in Nashville where he has been a successful businessman since retiring from the CFL after the 1996 season. "We're very happy with Kent's decision," said Renegades head coach Joe Paopao. "His knowledge and understanding of the CFL passing game and of quarterbacking are exceptional. He will be a great addition to our staff." Austin and Renegades general manager Eric Tillman are graduates of the University of Mississippi. In 1994, Austin was the team's quarterback and Tillman the GM when the B.C. Lions won the Grey Cup. "Of Kent's many assets, two that certainly stand out are his tremendous work ethic and his exceptional intelligence," said Tillman. "That combination made him perhaps the best-prepared player that I've ever been around." After spending brief time with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals, Austin joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1987 and played seven seasons in Regina, the highlight coming in 1989 when he led the Roughriders to a thrilling 43-40 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in one of the most memorable Grey Cup games ever. Austin earned the Most Valuable Player honour of the game, throwing for 474 yards. Only Sam Etcheverry for Montreal in 1955 and Doug Flutie for Calgary in 1992 have thrown for more yards in a Grey Cup game. Austin also played for the B.C. Lions, the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He holds league records in several passing categories, including:
-- Most Pass Attempts during one regular season: 770 in 1992.
-- Most Pass Attempts in a Regular-Season Game: 65 (Edmonton at Saskatchewan), Sept. 15, 1991
-- Most Pass Completions, Regular-Season Game: 41 (Saskatchewan at Toronto), Oct. 31, 1993 (shares record with Dieter Brock). Austin compiled 36,030 passing yards during his career, ranking eighth on the all-time CFL list behind Damon Allen, Ron Lancaster, Matt Dunigan, Doug Flutie, Tracy Ham, Tom Clements and Danny McManus. Austin and wife Shelley live in Nashville with their daughters Kendall, 10, and Kassidy, 5; and son Wesley, 4.
Canadian Football League Stories from February 25, 2003
- Kent Austin Joins Renegades - Ottawa Renegades
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- Argos Add Canadian University All-Stars - Toronto Argonauts
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