One of the truly fine gentlemen of the C-F-L, former Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach John Gregory (pictured middle), is dead at age 84.

He guided the Green and White to a Grey Cup win in 1989. Gregory was hired as the Riders head coach following the 1986 season. After missing the playoffs in 1987, Gregory led the Roughriders to a playoff berth in 1988. In 1989, after Saskatchewan finished third in the C-F-L’s Western Conference with a 9-9 record, he guided the Green and White to upset victories in Calgary and Edmonton before the Riders defeated Hamilton in the 1989 Grey Cup, to claim the franchise’s second Grey Cup victory. Gregory lasted as head coach with Saskatchewan until the 1991 season when he was replaced by Don Matthews after the team started the year with a 1-6 record. Gregory also coached in Hamilton and Winnipeg. The Iowa Barnstormers, an Arena League team Gregory also coached, confirmed his passing Monday. There’s no immediate word on the cause of death.