Johnny Babineau was born in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, but moved to saskatoon when he was just a year old.  Babineau played junior football with the Saskatoon Collegians for two seasons (1937-38) who competed against the Regina Dales for the Saskatchewan championship (there was no junior league at the time). Babineau would go on to form a life long friendship with Lindsay Holt who played for the Dales and also later for the Riders.  Babineau joined he army in 1939 and served for six years.  IN 1945, Babineau was stationed in Regina and started playing with the Regina (now Saskatchewan) Roughriders. Banineau also played for the Riders in 1946* as a guard / lienbacker.   Banineau moved to Saskatoon where he was an assistant coach for the Saskatoon Hilltops junior team in their first season in 1947 with his friend Holt as the head coach.  Babineau would reamin with the Hilltops as a coach from 1947 to 1949.   Babineau took over as head coach of the Hilltops and 1958 and led them to their first national championship.  In 1959, the Hilltops under Babineau, were undefeated as they won thei rsecond national title**.  Johnny Babineau passed away on January 8, 2008.

Babineau Starts 11th Term With With Hilltops - January 30, 1957

Babineau Named Head Coach of Hilltops - February 26, 1958

Rams Bite the Dust Twice - September 2, 1958

Babneau Head Coach With Hiltops - September 5, 1958

Saskatoon Pays Tribute to Her Hilltops - December 16, 1958

sHilltops Retain National Title - November 23, 1959

Babneau Retires As Hilltop Coach - March 11, 1960

Former Hilltop Coach Dies - January 10, 2008

* The Saskatchewan All-Time roster lists Babineau for 1946, but the 2008 link above says 1945. The 1958 article annoucing his selection as Hilltops Head Coach says he played both 1945 and 1946 with the Riders.

** The 2008 article on Babineau's death says he was an assistant coach in 1958, but the 1958 articles list Babineau as the head coach.