Wolverines Lose an Icon

The Club was devastated to learn that we have again lost a member of our family.

Wally Bawol, who was the first head coach of the Wolverines and has been a Wolverine coach ever since, passed away early on December 27th of an apparent heart attack. He was 59 years old.

It's really impossible to describe how important Wally was to the Wolverines, and to convey just how devastating his loss is to the Club. Football, not only in Sherwood Park but in the Capital District, will keenly feel his absence.

Wally began his coaching career 23 seasons ago in Sherwood Park. He coached every level, from Atom on up. He has spent time with every Bantam team in Sherwood Park, serving as head coach for both the Rams and Northstars for periods of time in the eighties and nineties. He coached the Sherwood Park Bulldogs for their first two seasons of existence in 1999 and 2000, where he became part of the Wolverine movement and agreed to be the team's first ever head coach for the 2001 season.

Wally remained the Wolverine head coach for three years, and then assumed the Offensive Coordinator duties for 2004-06. When the Elk Island Lightning commenced operations in 2007 he left the Bantam side for this new challenge, and was largely responsible for ensuring the success of that franchise.

But Wally did not leave the Wolverines. When the Midgets started up in 2005 Wally quickly joined that staff and has been an integral part of the Wolverine Midget program ever since.

In addition, Wally has spent many years coaching at the high school level, mainly with the Bev Facey Falcons.

Over his coaching career, he massed an impressive record which included three league championships, six divisional titles and a Northern Alberta championship.

To wife Linda, sons Chris and David, and the rest of the Bawol family, the Wolverines extend their most heartfelt sympathies. As for the Sherwood Park and area football community, we have lost an icon. Wally Bawol literally touched the lives of thousands of kids during his coaching career and we will feel his loss keenly. His over-riding concern was always the welfare of his players, and he took far greater satisfaction of seeing one of his young charges succeed at the high school, junior, university levels than from anything else.

This article was read at Coach Wally's funeral by the family. The Wolverines wish to express our thanks to the family for acknowledging his contribution to our program.