The Ottawa Redblacks named Mike Morreale the new club president on Tuesday.
“Our fans have every right to expect much more from the Redblacks than we have delivered,” said Mark Goudie, President and CEO of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG). “Mike has two clear jobs: build a football organization capable of competing for championships and reconnect this team with Ottawa. When this club was at its best, this city felt part of it. We need to earn that back.
Mike Morreale is 55 years old and is from Hamilton, Ontario. He was recently the commissioner and co-founder of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). During his time there, he helped the league grow from six teams to ten in eight seasons. He also helped the CEBL secure TV deals with TSN and CBC, while getting international deals in the United States, Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore.
“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity, and I understand the responsibility that comes with it,” said Morreale. “This is about more than building a team that can win. It’s about building an organization that can compete for championships and give people in Ottawa a reason to feel connected to and proud of the Redblacks. I know there is work ahead, and my focus will be on making the decisions needed to build that kind of organization that leads to success on and off the field.”
Morreale is no stranger to the CFL. He was drafted by the B.C. Lions in the second round (17th pick) in the 1994 CFL Draft out of McMaster University, where he finished his collegiate career with 116 catches for 1,880 yards, 16 touchdowns, four carries for 33 yards, 27 punt returns for 217 yards, and nine kick returns for 185 yards. He was named a two-time OUAA All-Star, team MVP, and All-Canadian. He was inducted into the McMaster Hall of Fame in 2005.
Morreale never played for the BC Lions. Instead, he spent 12 seasons playing for the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with 509 catches for 6,649 yards, 24 touchdowns, two punts for 71 yards (35.5 AVG), two punt returns for 28 yards, eight kick returns for 33 yards, 26 tackles, 47 tackles on special teams, and one fumble recovery in 216 games.
In 1998, Morreale was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian after finishing the season with 67 catches for 1,076 yards, six touchdowns, three tackles, and three tackles on special teams in 18 games. Morreale is a two-time Grey Cup champion with the Toronto Argonauts (1996) and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1999).
He also won the Dick Suderman Trophy in 1999 for having the best performance in the Grey Cup, and the Tom Pate Memorial Award in 2000 for outstanding sportsmanship and someone who has made a significant contribution to his team, his community and Association.
After his playing career ended, Morreale spent more than 17 years with the Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA), serving as a player representative, Director of Marketing, and later President until 2014. He also worked as a color analyst in U Sports football and for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2018 to 2019.
