Career
He served as head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1973–1976), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1978–1980) and Ottawa Rough Riders (1996) of the Canadian Football League (Canadian Football League), compiling a career record of 62–63–3. Payne also was the head football coach at Abilene Christian University from 1985 to 1990, posting a mark of 26–34–2. After serving as an assistant with Central High School and Brigham Young University, Payne moved to the Canadian Football League in 1968.
He served as an assistant with the Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders before becoming the Roughriders head coach in 1973.
In 1977, Payne left the Roughriders and joined the Detroit Lions. Payne and the rest of the coaching staff was fired at the end of the season.
He returned to the Canadian Football League, replacing Tom Dimitroff as head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats five games into the 1978 season. In 1985, Payne became head coach at Abilene Christian University located in Abilene, Texas.
He was the Wildcats head coach for six seasons and had a coaching record of 26–34–2.
Payne returned to the Canadian Football League in 1993 as the offensive line coach for the Sacramento Gold Miners. In 1995, Norton Herrick, an Orlando, Florida real estate developer, announced plans to move the Canadian Football League"s Las Vegas Posse to Jackson, Mississippi. Payne was to be the club"s head coach, however plans fell through and the relocation did not take place.
In 1996, Payne, then an assistant with the Ottawa Rough Riders, was promoted to head coach.
He coached the team to a 3–11 record. The Rough Riders ceased operations after the season and Payne became the final coach in the 120-year history of the team
On November 18, 1997, the New York CityHawks of the Arena Football League named Payne offensive coordinator.
