| Birth date | 1963 |
|---|---|
| Death date | March 26, 2013 (aged 50) |
| Death place | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| High school | Campbell Collegiate |
| Amateur team | Regina Rams (1982–1983) |
| College | Princeton (1981) |
| Overall record | 8–16 (.333) |
Ron "R. D." Lancaster Jr. (1963 – March 26, 2013) was a Canadian football coach who was an assistant with the Toronto Argonauts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League and head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons.[1]
Early life
Lancaster was the son of CFL quarterback, coach and executive Ron Lancaster.[1] He played high school football at Campbell Collegiate in Regina, Saskatchewan.[2] He was the fourth-string quarterback for the UBC Thunderbirds in 1981, then played for the Regina Rams junior football team as a backup.[3]
Coaching
Lancaster began his coaching career in 1985 as the offensive co-ordinator at Central Collegiate in Regina.[4] In 1988, he was an assistant coach for the University of Toronto.[5] He then served as the quarterbacks coach for the McMaster Marauders.[6] In 1990, he was the offensive coordinator at Acadia, where his brother Bob was the starting quarterback.[6][7]
In 1991, Lancaster joined the Toronto Argonauts as their running backs coach.[6] The team won the 79th Grey Cup that year.[8] Midway through the 1992 season, Dennis Meyer took over as head coach and handed offensive play calling duties to Lancaster and injured quarterback Mike Kerrigan.[9] From 1993 to 1995, Lancaster was the head coach of the Manitoba Bisons, where he had an overall coaching record of 8–16.[8]
In 1996, Lancaster became the offensive co-ordinator under his father with the Edmonton Eskimos.[10] Both Lancasters moved to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1998 and led the team to victory in the following year's Grey Cup.[11][1] He was let go following an ownership change in December 2003 and hired as offensive co-ordinator by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers[12] He returned to the Eskimos in 2005 as quarterbacks coach and won his third Grey Cup that season. In 2006, he was Edmonton's receivers coach.[13]
Later life
In 2007, Lancaster became a teacher and coach in Hamilton, Ontario.[4] On March 26, 2013, he was found dead in his apartment in Hamilton.[1][4]
References
- ^ "Former CFL assistant coach Ron Lancaster Jr. dies". CBC. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ Martin, Vicki-Lynn (September 5, 1979). "Schwann Conference will have two new teams". The Leader-Post. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ Pap, Elliott (October 27, 1982). "Trojans get set to battle Rams". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ "Ron (R.D.) Lancaster Jr. passes away at 50". The Hamilton Spectator. March 28, 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ "Varsity Blues Football Assistant Coaches, 1946 to date". Varsity Blues. University of Toronto Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ Matsumoto, Rick (May 4, 1991). "Famous name joins Argo coaching staff". Toronto Star
- ^ Bacon, Dick (April 19, 1990). "Ex-Vanier star pivot Pitselis takes time choosing university". The Montreal Gazette
- ^ "Bison Sports and Bison football program remember former Bison football head coach Ron Lancaster Jr.". University of Manitoba Bisons. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ "Death-defying Argonauts show signs of life". The Montreal Gazette. September 27, 1992.
- ^ Dickins, Jeff (December 13, 1996). "Mac job attracts familiar names". The Hamilton Spectator
- ^ Dickins, Jeff (December 6, 1997). "Lancaster's squadron taking shape: Little General fills out his staff". The Hamilton Spectator
- ^ "Lancaster Jr. joins Blue Bombers". CBC Sports. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ "Eskimos mourn the passing of Ron Lancaster Jr.". Edmonton Elks. Retrieved 20 September 2025.