Steve Buratto returns for his second campaign as the program’s offensive coordinator and associate head coach. In his first year at UBC, the Thunderbirds claimed the Vanier Cup national championship with the offence averaging 36.2 points a game over 13 non-conference, Canada West and playoff contests.
With over 40 years of coaching experience, Buratto rejoined UBC head coach Blake Nill, with whom he worked for two seasons (2013-14) as offensive line coach at the University of Calgary.
No stranger to football in this province, Buratto has had multiple stints working with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, most notably leading the Lions to a Grey Championship in 2000.
He previously was head coach of the Calgary Stampeders in the mid-80’s and also worked for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Baltimore Stallions, Toronto Argonauts, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his coaching career, which began in the late 1960’s, Buratto has coached high school, US college, Canadian college, and in the CFL.
An offensive lineman during his playing days, he was a three-year starter at centre for the University of Idaho where he graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree, with a major in foreign language. He also has a Masters degree in Physical Education.
He earned a try out with the Green Bay Packers in 1966 and 1967, but was unsuccessful. Those years the Packers were coached by the legendary Vince Lombardi and Green Bay won Super Bowl I and II.
