Rob Kochel BA’78
Defensive Back, Calgary Stampeeders (1978, 1979, 1980)
A gifted player with great instincts, foot speed and field vision, Rob helped the Mustangs win the national championship in two of his three seasons (1976 and 1977). Drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the second round of the 1978 draft, Rob started at inside safety in his first season and went on to play for three years before an injury ended his career. Today, he lives in Toronto with his wife Dolores, and travels across North America as a nationally recognized keynote speaker and workshop leader in the investment industry.
Irv Daymond BA’85
Offensive Lineman, Ottawa Rough Riders (1986 through 1995)
In five seasons with the Mustangs, Irv helped Western capture three Yates Cup titles (1981, 1982, 1985). He also earned Western’s most improved player award in 1982, and was a two-time OUA First Team All-Star. Drafted by the BC Lions, Daymond was claimed by the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1986, beginning a relationship with Ottawa that lasted until 1995. A two-time East Division All-Star, the CFL’s defensive players named Irv the CFLPA’s Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1992, and the Rough Riders twice selected him as the team’s nominee for the Tom Pate Memorial Award for his outstanding community work in the Ottawa area. He is currently the Offensive Line Coach of the Laurier Golden Hawks.
Jeff Keeping BA’11
Defensive Tackle & Offensive Lineman, Toronto Argonauts (2005-present)
Jeff Keeping joined the Mustangs in 2001, and immediately fit into the Mustangs offence. The 6-5, 240-pound tight
end was an OUA Second Team All-Star in 2003. Keeping was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2005. Playing on both sides of the ball, he was named Argos Rookie of the Year. He joined the Montreal Alouettes in 2008, but returned to Toronto in 2009, where he played through 2015. Jeff helped Toronto win the 100th Grey Cup in 2012, and in 2013 he was named an East Division and CFL All-Star, and was the East’s Most Outstanding Lineman. He has signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for this season. Jeff was also recently named the new President of the CFL Players’ Association.
Vaughn Martin
Defensive Tackle, San Diego (2009-2012), Miami Dolphins (2013), and Kansas City Chiefs (2015)
Vaughn Martin was one of the most dominant defensive players in Mustangs history. He came to Western in 2007 and made an immediate impact, earning OUA Second Team All-Star honours and helping Western hoist its first Yates Cup title in eight years. In 2008, he helped guide the Mustangs to their first Vanier Cup appearance in 13 years. In 2009, he became the first underclassman in CIS history to be selected in the NFL Draft, going in the fourth round to the San Diego Chargers. He spent four seasons in San Diego, before moving on to stints with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and Detroit Lions. He recently signed with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes and will continue his career on Canadian soil in 2016.
Craig Butler BA’13
Defensive Back, Saskatchewan Roughriders (2011-2013) and Hamilton Tiger Cats (2014-present)
Craig joined his hometown Western Mustangs in 2007. In his four seasons, he won three Yates Cup titles and racked up four OUA all-star honours (at three different positions — kick returner, rush-cover, and defensive halfback). He was also a CIS First Team All-Canadian at defensive halfback. He ended his Western career by winning the Dr. Claude Brown Memorial Trophy, awarded to the University’s top male athlete. In 2011, the Saskatchewan Roughriders drafted Craig in the second round, where he played for three seasons before signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2014. He was a West All-Star in 2011, and he won a Grey Cup in 2013.
Story submitted by Jeffrey Fischer and Western Alumni
