| Vic Rapp | |
| Birth Date: | 23 December 1929 |
| Birth Place: | Marionville, Missouri, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| College: | Southwest Missouri State University |
| Administrating Years1: | 1995 |
| Administrating Team1: | Philadelphia Eagles (Scout) |
| Coaching Years1: | 1967–1971 |
| Coaching Team1: | Missouri (Ends coach) |
| Coaching Years2: | – |
| Coaching Team2: | Edmonton Eskimos (OC) |
| Coaching Years3: | – |
| Coaching Team3: | BC Lions (HC) |
| Coaching Years4: | 1983 |
| Coaching Team4: | Houston Oilers (ST coach) |
| Coaching Years5: | 1984 |
| Coaching Team5: | Los Angeles Rams (WR coach) |
| Coaching Years6: | 1985–1986 |
| Coaching Team6: | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (RB coach) |
| Coaching Years7: | 1987–1988 |
| Coaching Team7: | Detroit Lions (RB coach) |
| Coaching Years8: | 1989–1992 |
| Coaching Team8: | Chicago Bears (WR coach) |
| Coaching Years9: | 1996–2000 |
| Coaching Team9: | Arizona Cardinals (WR coach) |
| Career Highlights: | |
| Awards: | Annis Stukus Trophy (1977) |
| Honors: | BC Lions Wall of Fame (2010) |
Victor Max Rapp (December 23, 1929 – October 24, 2016) was an American and Canadian football coach who served as the head coach of the BC Lions from 1977 to 1982.[1]
Rapp was born in 1929 in Marionville, Missouri.[2] A graduate of the University of Missouri, Rapp served as the Tigers end coach from 1967 to 1971.[3] In 1972, he became the offensive coordinator of the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos. During his tenure in Edmonton, the Eskimos appeared in the Grey Cup four times; winning in 1975. Rapp left Edmonton in 1977 to become the receivers coach at Miami.[4] Less than three weeks after accepting the Miami job, BC Lions general manager Bob Ackles hired Rapp to replace Cal Murphy as Lions head coach.
In his first season as Lions coach, Rapp led the Lions to a 10-6 record and was named the Canadian Football League's Coach of the Year.[5] The Lions made the playoffs three times under Rapp but never advanced past the Western Final. After six seasons in Vancouver without a championship, Ackles felt that Rapp would not be able to lead the Lions to a championship and fired him.[6]
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
| BC | 1977 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 2nd in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in West Final | |
| BC | 1978 | 7 | 7 | 2 | .500 | 4th in West Division | 0 | 0 | Missed Playoffs | |
| BC | 1979 | 9 | 6 | 1 | .600 | 3rd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in West Semifinal | |
| BC | 1980 | 8 | 7 | 1 | .533 | 4th in West Division | 0 | 0 | Missed Playoffs | |
| BC | 1981 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3rd in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in West Final | |
| BC | 1982 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4th in West Division | 0 | 0 | Missed Playoffs | |
| Total | 53 | 39 | 4 | .576 | 2 | 3 | ||||
After his firing, Rapp served as an assistant with the Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Arizona Cardinals. He spent one season as a scout for the Philadelphia Eagles.[7]
Rapp retired to Orlando, Florida. He died on October 24, 2016.[8]