Renamed OUA football Champion of EDI Award honours legacy of Bernie Custis

Burlington, Ont. - After being handed out for the first time in 2022, the fall of 2024 marked the third time the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Champion of EDI Award for football has been awarded, but the first time as the Bernie Custis Champion of EDI Award.

The award was renamed in the fall after Custis, who was a trailblazing figure in Canadian football and recognized as the first Black quarterback in North American professional football.

Born in Hamilton, Ont. in 1931, Custis played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1950s and 60s, having led them to a Grey Cup victory in 1953. Custis broke racial barriers in the CFL, earning respect for his leadership and skill on the field.

After retiring as a player, he made history again in 1981 as the first Black head coach of the McMaster Marauders football team. Over eight seasons, he built a competitive program that emphasized discipline, inclusivity, and the development of young athletes.

His leadership at McMaster solidified his legacy as a ground-breaking figure, both as a player and coach, inspiring future generations of athletes in professional and university football.

The inaugural recipient of the Bernie Custis Champion of EDI Award was Kwabena-Nana Gyimah from the Ottawa Gee-Gees. He was honoured with the recognition at Tim Horton’s Field on November 7, 2024 as part of the OUA Football Awards Luncheon, and on hand to present the award to Gyimah was Matt Brown, a close friend of the Custis family.