CHL Central Hockey League

Stamps add experience to offence

Published on January 18, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


(Calgary) – Today the Calgary Stampeder Football Club named Steve Buratto Offensive Coordinator. In 2004 Steve led the BC Lions as Offensive Coordinator to several number one categories in the league. Under his tutelage the Lions led the league in most points scored (544), most td's scored (63), average time of possession (31:55), most first downs (429), and most yards total offence (7726) just to name a few.

"I am extremely thrilled in having Steve Buratto join our coaching staff. He is very well respected throughout the Canadian Football League and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Stampeder Football Club" stated Senior Vice-President of Football Operations/Head Coach Tom Higgins.

Here is a closer look at Steve Buratto:

Steve Buratto

Offensive Coordinator

Steve enters his first season as Offensive Coordinator with the Stampeder Football Club. In 2004, Steve led the BC Lions as Offensive Coordinator to several number one categories in the league. Under his tutelage the Lions led the league in the following categories: most points scored (544), most td's scored (63), most td's passing (45), average points scored per game (30.2), average time of possession (31:55), most first downs (429), most 1st downs passing (262), most yards total offence (7726), average yards offence per game (429.2), average gain per pass (10.1), most yards net passing (6335), and average yards passing per game (351.9). The Lions also finished second in several categories; most yards net rushing (1985), average yards rushing per game (110.3), most passes completed (409), and highest % pass completions (65.2%).

Also in 2004, various Lions players reached career highs in several categories. Quarterback Casey Printers looked unstoppable at times under Buratto's system, finishing the season as the league's Most Outstanding Player. His numbers were remarkable including his pass percentage (65.8%), average gain per pass (10.3), passing touchdowns (35) and touchdown percentage (7.1%). Printers finished the season with the highest pass efficiency rating in the league (115.0).

Steve's offence also had two of the top three receivers in the league, Geroy Simon finished on top with 103 catches for 1750 yards and 14 touchdowns while Jason Clermont was third in the league with 83 catches for 1220 yards and 7 touchdowns.

In 2003, Steve entered the season as the Lions offensive coordinator. Under his offensive system the Lions led the league in the following categories: most td passes (42), most yards total offence (7593), average yards offence per game (421.8), average gain per pass (10.0),and highest percentage pass completions (67.6%).

On August 20, 2000, Steve was named Head Coach of the Lions which he remained until the 2003 season. In 2001 the Lions finished the season with 8 wins and 10 losses, which was the same record as the eventual Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders. In 2002, the Lions bettered their record winning 2 more games, finishing the season with 10 wins and 8 losses.

Steve spent 1978-79 as a guest coach with Saskatchewan, before the Roughriders hired him as a full-time assistant coach prior to the start of the 1980 season. Steve spent the next three seasons in Regina, before joining the Lions in 1983 as their Defensive Coordinator.

After a head coaching stop in Calgary in 1984-85, Steve rejoined BC in 1986, where he enjoyed stints as both the Co-Offensive Coordinator, and the Defensive Coordinator.

Steve's other CFL experience includes a year as Saskatchewan's Offensive Line coach in 1993. He then played the Offensive Coordinator role in Baltimore in 1994 and 1995, leading the offence to a Grey Cup appearance against the Lions in 1994.

Back in 1980 Steve was the offensive line coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the same year Tom Higgins occupied a spot in the linebacker core. A couple years later the two of them had a stop in Calgary, as Steve was the Stampeders Head Coach naming Tom as his linebacker coach. This was Tom's first professional coaching job.

This past season Steve and his wife Judy lived in Vancouver's Lower Mainland.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2005


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