Warren Stevens (Canadian football)

Warren Stevens

Biographical details
Born	(1905-08-05)August 5, 1905 Syracuse, New York
Died	October 26, 1978(1978-10-26) (aged 73) Melbourne, Australia
Playing career
Football
1928–1930	Syracuse
1931	Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers
Position	Halfback/Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1932–1945	Toronto
Men's ice hockey
1933–1935	Toronto
Men's basketball
1935–1940	Toronto
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1932–1970	Toronto
Head coaching record
Overall	44–26–2 (.625) (Football) 1–3–0 (.250) (Ice hockey) 22–8 (.733) (Men's basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As a player Grey Cup champion (1931) As a head coach 3x Yates Cup champion (1932, 1933, and 1936)

Warren Adelbert Stevens (August 6, 1905 – October 26, 1978) was an American-born Canadian football player and coach who was the first player to throw for a touchdown in the Grey Cup. He was also the first full-time director of athletics at a Canadian university.

Early life

Stevens was born in Syracuse, New York in August 6, 1905 to Gordon Warren and Alice Elizabeth Stevens. He attended Eastwood High and Central Technical High School in Syracuse.

Syracuse University

Stevens played three seasons of varsity football, baseball, and basketball at Syracuse University. His college football career ended when he fractured his skull in a game against Colgate.

Montreal AAA

In 1931, Stevens enrolled in McGill University as a graduate student in order to learn about ice hockey. He was asked by the school's football coach, Frank Shaughnessy to teach his players the forward pass, which was legalized in the Canadian game that year. Shaughnessy introduced him to Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers coach Clary Floran. Stevens won the Winged Wheelers quarterback job, led the team to an undefeated regular season and a 22–0 victory over the intercollegiate champion Western to play in the 19th Grey Cup. In that game, Stevens completed a touchdown pass to Kenny Grant – the first in Grey Cup history. Montreal won the game 22–0.

University of Toronto

In 1932, Stevens was appointed director of athletics at the University of Toronto. He was the first full-time director of athletics at a Canadian university. He was head coach of the Toronto Varsity Blues football from 1932 to 1945, compiling a 44–26–2 and winning three Yates Cups (1932, 1933, and 1936). He also coached the Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team from 1933 to 1935 and the men's basketball team from 1935 to 1940. He retired in 1970 and moved to Australia to be closer to his daughter. He died on October 26, 1978 at his home in Melbourne.