Bruno repaid the favor during his three year career under Bryant, and then some.
In 1950, his senior season, the hard-nosed end caught 38 passes for 589 yards and 10 touchdowns - huge numbers for that era - and was named third-team All America by both AP and UPI. His single-season school record for receiving yards stood until 1964 and his single-season record for touchdown receptions held until 1998.
Bruno, however, was reluctant to forego his participation in other sports. In addition to playing a key role on UK's Orange and Sugar Bowl teams, he also played on the Wildcats' National Championship basketball team in 1949 under another legendary head coach, Adolph Rupp.
Although selected by the by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1951 NFL draft, Bruno soon opted to return to Kentucky to earn his bachelor's degree in education and to assist Bryant as a graduate student. In 1952, rather than return to the NFL, Bruno, with a glowing recommendation from the "Bear", took his talents north of the border to Canada, where he caught on with the Toronto Argonauts. Not surprisingly, Bruno led Toronto in both receiving and TD catches during the Argos' 1952 CFL Grey Cup championship season. He also played for the Ottowa Rough Riders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before a serious knee injury ended his illustrious playing career.
He spent the next few years testing the coaching waters in Canada as an assistant before returning to West Chester High as a teacher and coach. In 1966, Bruno returned to the CFL as offensive coordinator for the Rough Riders. Following two seasons in Ottowa, he was named offensive coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats under head coach Joe Restic. After three seasons in Hamilton, Bruno followed Restic to Harvard University, where they guided the Crimson to three Ivy League titles during the next 10 seasons.
Soon after, the "Great White North" beckoned yet again and Bruno was named head coach of the Tiger-Cats in 1983. After two straight trips to the CFL Championship game, the Bruno-led Tiger-Cats finally brought home the Grey Cup in 1986, and with it, Bruno's selection as CFL Coach of the Year.
Bruno remained as Hamilton head coach until 1991, when he joined the British Columbia Lions as their head pro scout. He eventually ended his coaching career at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
When Kentucky Athletics' 2008 Hall of Fame class was formally inducted in Lexington in late 2008, Al Bruno headlined the list of UK stars, which included men's basketball player and athletics director C.M. Newton and men's golfer Johnny Owens. In 2004, Bruno was inducted into the West Chester Henderson High School Hall of Fame.
Bruno and his wife, Marie, reside in Punta Gorda, Florida.
RETURN TO HALL OF FAMERS
