Rita was born on Kauai, one of the islands of Hawaii and played collegiate football at Boise State. After completing his college football playing career, he joined his alma materβs coaching staff. Rita spent 12 years coaching at Boise State University, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the University of Hawaii.
He then joined the CFL in 1983 as an offensive coordinator with the B.C. Lions. In just two years at the helm of the Lionsβ offense, the team won the Grey Cup. In 1991, Rita was named head coach of the Toronto Argonauts where he immediately led the team to a league-best record of 13-5 and the Grey Cup. In 2004, Rita was named general manager of the Argonauts, and in his first year on the job again led the Argonauts to the Grey Cup.
Rita lives in Mississauga, Ontario with wife Judy and has two sons, Kevin and Harrison, one granddaughter, Jennifer and one grandson, Seth.
| Career history | |
|---|---|
| As administrator | |
| 1997β2002 | BC LionsΒ (GM) |
| 2004β2010 | Toronto ArgonautsΒ (GM) |
| As coach | |
| 1969β1976 | Boise State BroncosΒ (AC) |
| 1977β1978 | UNLV RebelsΒ (AC) |
| 1979β1982 | Hawaii Rainbow WarriorsΒ (AC) |
| 1983β1988 | BC LionsΒ (OC) |
| 1989 | UBC ThunderbirdsΒ (HC) |
| 1990 | Toronto ArgonautsΒ (OC) |
| 1991β1992 | Toronto Argonauts (HC) |
| 1993 | Edmonton EskimosΒ (OC) |
| 1994 | Ottawa Rough RidersΒ (HC) |
| 1995 | Memphis Mad DogsΒ (OC) |
| 1996 | Toronto Argonauts (OC) |
| 1997β1998 | BC Lions (HC) |
| 2002 | BC Lions (IHC) |
| 2003 | Toronto Argonauts (OC) |
| 2012β2015 | Trinity College SchoolΒ (AC/OC) |
| 2012 | Prague PanthersΒ (HC) |
| 2013β2014 | Calanda BroncosΒ (HC) |
| 2016; 2018-present | Clarkson Secondary SchoolΒ (AC/OC) |
| 2018β2019 | Bergamo LionsΒ (HC/OC) |
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