Barry Boley becomes the second member of his family to be inducted into the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame. His sister, Susan Boley Tripp, was inducted in 2003 as a Female Athlete. Born in 1961, he grew up in Wallaceburg and would graduate from Wallaceburg District Secondary School before heading off to the University of Waterloo. While at Waterloo, Barry played for the Warriors football team as a linebacker.

 

Upon his graduation from the University of Waterloo, he would go on to a 33-year teaching career at the Owen Sound Collegiate Vocational Institute where he coached for 30 of those 33 years. For 29 years, he coached the football team, winning 11 league championships. He coached the boys junior and senior basketball team, and sometimes both for 28 years, winning 18 league championships and 4 CWOSSA titles. He was the strength coach for 23 years and he coached track and field for 8 years. He was also the teacher sponsor for the Boys’ Athletic Association for 19 years. Barry also introduced Friday Night Lights Football and for 21 years he ran the Student vs Alumni basketball game. A Director and President of the Bluewater Athletic Association, he received both the Pete Beach Award and Colin Hood Awards for dedication to high school sports.

 

Outside of school, he was a trainer for 4 years in Owen Sound minor hockey, coached minor football in Orangeville and was the Camp Celtic basketball coach for 3 years. A tremendously dedicated coach and positive influence on the lives of so many. Sadly, Barry passed away in December of 2020. He was predeceased by his 6-year-old daughter Jodie and is survived by his wife Teresa and daughters Jocelyn, Jamie and Molly and sons Dustin and Braden.