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Eric Tillman (born July 24, 1957) is a consultant for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League and the former general manager of the BC Lions (1993–94), Toronto Argonauts (1997, 1999), Ottawa Renegades (2002–04), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2006–2010), and Edmonton Eskimos (2010–2012) He won Grey Cups with teams he was managing in 1994, 1997 and 2007.

Tillman previously served as a CFL analyst for TSN and Rogers Sportsnet, and as a scout.

Early career

Tillman began his career as a CFL executive in 1982 as the player personnel director of the Montreal Concordes.

From 1984 to 1993, Tillman served as Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, a game sponsored by National Football League designed to showcase the talents of players graduating from United States colleges.

BC Lions

From 1993 to 1995, Tillman was the General Manager of the BC Lions. Tillman took over a team that went 3-15 in 1992. Under Tillman, the Lions posted a 31–22–1 record and upset the Baltimore Stallions in the 82nd Grey Cup. The Lions success came in spite of regular fighting between head coach Dave Ritchie and owner Bill Comrie and a lack of team harmony.

In 1995, Norton Herrick, an Orlando, Florida real estate developer, announced plans to move the CFL's Las Vegas Posse to Tillman's hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Tillman was to be the club's general manager, however plans fell through and the relocation did not take place and Tillman remained with BC.

Toronto Argonauts

In November 1995, the World League of American Football named Tillman it's Director of Football Operations. Tillman, however preferred overseeing a single team so in 1997 he returned to the CFL as general manager of the Toronto Argonauts. That year, the Argonauts won the Grey Cup. However, Tillman and head coach Don Matthews had a tumultuous relationship. On March 1, 1998, Tillman officially departed the Argonauts. He then joined TSN as a football analyst. In 1999, Matthews left the Argonauts to become head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos and, after Wally Buono turned down an offer to become head coach and general manager, the Argos asked Tillman to return as GM. When the team was purchased by New York businessman Sherwood Schwarz after the 1999 season, Tillman was fired and replaced by Schwarz's cousin, J. I. Albrecht. After his dismissal, Tillman returned to TSN.

Ottawa Renegades

In 2001, Tillman was named General Manager of the expansion Ottawa Renegades, a position he held for two seasons. Ottawa won three games their inaugural season and seven games the following year. Tillman was dismissed when the club was in the process of being sold to the Glieberman family.

After leaving Ottawa, Tillman served as an analyst for the CBC and Rogers Sportsnet.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Part way through the 2006 CFL season, Tillman was hired as the Roughriders general manager after they fired long time GM Roy Shivers. The team finished 5-4 down the stretch and clinched a playoff spot. Prior to his hiring, the Riders had not hosted a home playoff game in 18 years (1988), and only had one winning season (2003) in the previous 12 years. Tillman was credited with being the brains behind the scenes that allowed Saskatchewan to win their third Grey Cup, in 2007, and he was rewarded with a contract extension through 2010. During Tillman's three years with the team, the Riders regular season record was 31-22-1, they hosted three consecutive home playoff games, played in two Grey Cups, winning the 2007 championship. Other notable signees in Tillman's time were Stevie Baggs, Weston Dressler, Rob Bagg, Omarr Morgan(second stint with the team)Yo Murphy, Jason Armstead (second stint), as well as re-acquiring the fan favourite in Regina, Corey Holmes. Saskatchewan lost the 2009 Grey Cup on 33 yard field goal, which came after the clock had expired. On the previous play the Riders were penalized for too many men on the field, negating a missed field goal attempt by the Alouettes.

Sexual assault charges and resignation

On January 27, 2009, Tillman was charged with summary sexual assault. Regina police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich said the complainant, a 16-year-old girl, made her allegation on August 6, 2008. He was placed on paid administrative leave by the team on February 5, 2009. Tillman testified in his defence that he had been on medication when the incident occurred, while the accuser and his family had accepted his apology. Tillman pleaded guilty to the charge on January 4, 2010, the day his trial on this summary offence was to begin. He was granted an absolute discharge the following day and subsequently received no criminal record but was fined $50.00. Judge Murray Hinds stated that Tillman was "genuinely remorseful in this case there's no suggestion that Mr. Tillman is not generally of good character. He has no prior criminal record. His behaviour towards on Aug. 6 appears to be an aberration fuelled by his consumption of two non-prescription drugs, which he used for sleep and pain relief." On January 8, 2010, after a several hour discussion with the board of directors, he resigned from his position as the Roughriders' general manager.

Edmonton Eskimos

On September 14, 2010, Tillman was hired as General Manager of the Edmonton Eskimos. He took over an Eskimos team that had a league-worst 2-8 record. Tillman stated that his primary goal would be improving the team's Canadian players. According to Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur, the team received a "substantial" number of phone calls from fans opposed to hiring Tillman, however, the Eskimos organization had deemed him worthy of a second chance.

After joining the Eskimos midway through the 2010 season, the team finished the season 5-3, just two points out of the final playoff spot. Over the next two and a half years, the Eskimos achieved a winning regular season record, 23-21.

On Dececmber 12, 2011, Tillman traded quarterback Ricky Ray to the Toronto Argonauts for quarterback Steven Jyles, kicker Grant Shaw and a first-round pick. The move would be criticized as Jyles struggled at quarterback for the Eskimos while Ray led the Argonuats to victory in the 100th Grey Cup.

On November 3, 2012, 26 months after he was hired, Tillman was fired by Eskimos president Len Rhodes.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

A few months after his dismissal, the Hamilton Tiger Cats hired Tillman as a senior consultant.

CFL GM record

References

2. ^ "Tillman is fan friendly". www.canada.com. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
3. ^ "Tillman's future in CFL in doubt". CBC. January 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
4. Murray McCormick (January 5, 2010). "Tillman stands behind Saskatchewan Roughriders' code of conduct". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
5. ^ "Edmonton Eskimos fire GM Eric Tillman". The Toronto Star. November 3, 2012. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
6. ^ Davis, Darrell (November 24, 2007). "Riders GM Eric Tillman". Leader-Post. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
7. ^ "Tillman Back With Argos". The Daily Gleaner. February 4, 1999.
8. Murray, Ken (April 15, 1995). "Posse dispersal draft is set". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
9. "Transactions". The New York Times. November 14, 1995. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
10. "Tillman to tackle tasks with TSN". The Province. March 12, 1998.
11. York, Marty (May 9, 2000). "Former Argo GM drives hard bargain to collect his pay". The Globe and Mail.
12. "TSN adds body, stripe to its CFL broadcasts". The Toronto Star. July 4, 2000.
13. "Tillman to join Sportsnet". Calgary Herald. April 30, 2005.
15. ^
16. CBC: Roughriders' GM charged with sexual assault 3 February 2009
17. http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Riders+manage+without+Tillman/1256979/story.html
18. "CFL GM pleads guilty to sexual assault". Toronto Star. Toronto, ON, Canada: Torstar. Canadian Press. January 4, 2010. ISSN 0319-0781. OCLC 60656984. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010. The general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders wiped tears from his eyes as he stood in court Monday and apologized for sexually assaulting a teenage girl who was babysitting his children.
19. "Tillman Named New General Manager of Floundering Eskimos". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
20. Graham, Jennifer (January 5, 2010). "CFL GM granted discharge in sex assault". Toronto Star. Toronto, ON, Canada: Torstar. Canadian Press. ISSN 0319-0781. OCLC 60656984. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010. The general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has been granted an absolute discharge after admitting to sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
21. http://www.tsn.ca/ctvnews/default2.aspx?id=333761
22. http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/07/11/losing-ricky-ray-was-a-blow-to-the-edmonton-eskimos-offence-but-an-even-bigger-loss-may-have-been-defensive-co-ordinator-rich-stubler
23. http://www2.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/story.html?id=7495078

Template:Persondata

• 1957 births
• Living people
• BC Lions general managers
• Canadian Football League announcers
• Canadian sex offenders
• Edmonton Eskimos general managers
• Grey Cup champions
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats personnel
• Montreal Alouettes
• Ottawa Renegades personnel
• Saskatchewan Roughriders general managers
• Sportspeople from Jackson, Mississippi
• Toronto Argonauts general managers