On September 19, 2009, Buono became the CFL's all-time winningest coach when his Lions beat the Toronto Argonauts 23–17, giving him 232 regular-season victories, passing Don Matthews.

[3] He retired in 2011 with a CFL record 254 regular-season wins as head coach, to focus on duties as general manager for the Lions.

In the final home game of the 2018 season, Buono was honored with the Bob Ackles Award as he was retiring from football with the most wins as a coach.

He became interested in football after playing pick up games as a youth in Montréal-Nord, Quebec and being encouraged by CFL all-star Al Phaneuf, a Christian who was coaching a youth football team at one of Montreal’s parks (who invited Buono to join the team.

He returned to Canada and played 10 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes as a linebacker and punter, appearing in 152 consecutive games, not missing one in his career.

Calgary defeated Edmonton in the final game of the regular season to clinch first place in the West Division for the first time since 1971.

Trailing by 1 point late in the game, Garcia engineered a drive which would allow placekicker Mark McLoughlin to kick the game-winning field goal.

He led the Stampeders to the playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons, including 8 first-place finishes and 5 straight from 1992 to 1996, and 11 Division Final appearances.

[11] Buono was hired as head coach and general manager of the BC Lions prior to the 2003 season.

His team returned to prominence in 2011 after they once again finished first in the west division and followed it with a 34-23 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 99th Grey Cup at home.

He announced his resignation as head coach of the Lions on December 5, 2011 to focus on his duties as general manager.

[14] Following the 2017 season, Buono announced he was relinquishing the General Manager position in order to focus on his head coaching duties.

[17] Calgary under Buono went to Grey Cups with the following starting quarterbacks: Danny Barrett, Flutie (2), Garcia, Dave Dickenson, and Marcus Crandell.

Other quarterbacks who had success under Buono were Henry Burris,[17] Mike McCoy, Ben Sankey, Casey Printers, Spergon Wynn, Buck Pierce,[17] Jarious Jackson, and Jonathon Jennings.

The Wally Buono Award was established in 2003 by The Saint Bernard Pass Charitable Foundation for the purpose of recognizing Canada's top junior football player.