Argos introduce Andrus as new coach

The Toronto Argonauts held a news conference Friday morning to announce the hiring of head coach Bart Andrus.

Andrus spent the past season as an offensive assistant with the Tennessee Titans, his second stint with the team. The Titans were knocked out of the NFL playoffs last week, leaving him free to explore the opportunity.

Andrus, 50, has no CFL experience but has experience collegiately and in the defunct NFL Europe.

"I'm an adventurer," he said. "I look at this as a new challenge. I would not be here, without a doubt, if I didn't think I could do the job."

He said he was attracted by the opportunity for teams to put points on the board in the CFL game.

"As an offensive coach, this league is heaven," he said. "You can do all the things that you couldn't do in other places and other leagues so I'm really looking forward to the tinkering part of the job."

Andrus guided the Amsterdam Admirals for six years before the European league folded. The team made the championship final twice, with Andrus recognized as the league's top coach in 2005.

Toronto plummeted to a 4-14 record last season under Rich Stubler and then Don Matthews. The Argos lost the last nine games of the season.

Andrus wasn't the first man offered the job. The Argos first approached B.C. defensive co-ordinator Mike Benevides, who ultimately decided to continue with the Lions under coach Wally Buono.

Argos GM Adam Rita and player-personnel director Greg Mohns first met with Andrus several weeks ago.

Toronto, the only team in the league to finish with fewer than 400 points of offence, is clearly hoping Andrus can follow in the footsteps of Marc Trestman, who was also a CFL neophyte before taking Montreal to the Grey Cup last season.

'I've always watched the game'

Like Trestman, Andrus was a quarterback in college, playing at the University of Montana. He also served as an offensive co-ordinator in the NCAA's high-scoring Big West conference.

"I've always watched the game," said Andrus. "I've got friends that coach in the league."

During his first stint with Tennessee, which lasted from 1997 until early 2000, Andrus had occasion to work with Steve McNair, who was developing into an all-pro quarterback. The Titans reached the Super Bowl in 2000 before losing to St. Louis.

"Bart helped contribute to our success during our Super Bowl run," longtime Titans coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. "He also provided us with a great deal of valuable input this past season. His commitment to his job in NFL Europe was extraordinary and I would expect that his commitment to the Toronto Argonauts organization and its fans will produce tremendous results."

Andrus said that last year's offensive co-ordinator, Steve Buratto, would be back, although he stopped short of saying the veteran coach would be in the same role.

There was no word on the fate of the team's other assistants from last season.

Toronto is the last of the CFL teams to hire a coach ahead of the 2009 season, with Winnipeg and Edmonton the other clubs making changes this off-season.