TORONTO — The Canadian Football League is mourning the passing of former coach Bill MacDermott, who passed away on May 5.

MacDermott coached the Eskimos’ offensive line from 1992 to 1996 and again from 1999 to 2006, helping the Green and Gold win three Grey Cup Championships (1993, 2003 and 2005).

A native of Providence, he entered the coaching ranks in 1961 at Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut where served as the football and wrestling coach for six years.

From 1966 to 1970, he served as an assistant coach at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. In 1970, MacDermott was named head coach and went on to compile a record of 66-59-3 over the next 16 seasons. His 66 wins rank third among all head coaches in school history.

MacDermott entered the CFL in 1990 as an assistant coach with the Toronto Argonauts. He later worked with the Montreal Alouettes (1992), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1997) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2011).

His more than 50-year coaching career includes the Edmonton Huskies as head coach, Spruce Grove Panthers, Ottawa Gee-Gees, California Polytechnic University, NFL Europe’s Orlando Thunder and the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. Most recently, he lent his talents to the University of Alberta Golden Bears.