Graham Wise calls an end to great CIS coaching career

On the morning of June 16^th, it was announced that one of the greatest CIS coaching careers of all time would be coming to an end.

“I haven’t really had a break from hockey,” says Graham Wise. “I started playing when I was eight years-old and I haven’t had a season off. There’s been a lot of things put on the back-burner and [retiring] will give me the opportunity now to get some of those things done.”

A total of 407 wins as a head coach behind a CIS bench ranks Wise second in all-time CIS coaching wins, behind Saskatchewan’s Dave Adolph. Two OUA championships, five OUA coach of the year awards, and two national championships make Wise one of the most decorated head coaches in the league’s history. The feat is even more incredible when you factor in Wise’s lone season as a CIS hockey player with U of T, where he won the 1976 University Cup, and having won a national title as an assistant coach with the York Yeomen in 1985, Wise has completed the CIS version of the triple crown.

Although most of Wise’s accolades come from his years with York, his work in bringing a Ryerson Rams team with two wins in the two seasons prior to his hiring, to a contender year in and year out, will go down as one of his greatest accomplishments.

It didn’t always go well for Wise, who had to deal with a team suspension in 2013-14 for violating Ryerson policy on a road trip that saw them forfeit two games. Disappointing showings in the OUA semi-finals also plagued the Rams for years. But going out after the season which saw Ryerson win an OUA semi-final game for the first time in program history will be the new benchmark for a Ryerson program which looks to continue from where Wise left off.

“Graham was somebody that you looked up to, someone to emulate,” says Western Mustangs head coach Clarke Singer. “As long as I’ve known Graham, he’s not only been a great coach in the league, but a better person, and a great mentor to me.”

Including his years as an assistant coach at York, Wise spent 35 years in the CIS as a coach, and he credits the players for being the reason why he stayed so long.

“The thing I liked the most about the CIS was the players I coached,” says Wise, “It was them who kept me young, dealing with them and helping them along the way. It was the age group of the kids that I really enjoyed, and watching them go through school.”

Some of Wise’s greatest products were Brian MacDonald, long-time player for York who would later become the assistant-GM of the Colorado Avalanche, former University Cup MVP’s, forward Brian Gray (’87-88) and goaltender Mark Applewhaite (’88-89), Dr. Randy Gregg award winner Mike Williams (’00-01), and current director of player personnel with the LA Kings, Michael Futa.

The legacy Graham Wise will leave behind on the CIS is legendary. No single coach spent more seasons behind a CIS bench than Graham Wise.