Barker returns to coaching with Argonauts

Don Matthews failed to duplicate the success from his previous stints with the Toronto Argonauts. Now, it's Jim Barker's turn to give it a try.

The Pasadena, Calif., native was named the Canadian Football League's 42nd head coach on Tuesday, returning to the role he served in 1999 when the Argos had a 9-9 record.

Barker, 53, had joined the club two years earlier as its co-offensive co-ordinator and helped guide Toronto to a Grey Cup victory over Saskatchewan. His only other CFL head coaching job was six years ago in Calgary, where his Stampeders went 5-13.

"Coaching never leaves your blood and for me, this is the right situation, with the right organization and people, to return to the sidelines," Barker told reporters at a news conference in Toronto. "I plan to create an environment where players and coaches have the support and trust of everyone in the organization which gives you the best chance for success."

The Stampeders fired Barker after the 2003 season but he returned to Calgary in 2005 as general manager. He held that position for three seasons before the Stampeders reassigned Barker to the position of senior vice-president of football operations and director of player personnel.

"The Calgary Stampeders have been wonderful to me and this is not a decision I made lightly. Professionally, I needed a new challenge … I can't wait to get started," Barker said.

He takes over from CFL rookie Bart Andrus, who was fired on Dec. 14 following a dismal 3-15 season and second consecutive missed playoffs. Andrus, who also ran the Argos offence, succeeded Matthews, who went 0-9 in 2008 after replacing the fired Rich Stubler.

Barker, who was let go by incoming owner Sherwood Schwarz after the '99 season, not only rejoins an Argos outfit with plenty of questions on the field but also one that is reportedly on the verge of an ownership change. Owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski are said to be in serious negotiations with David Braley, who also owns the B.C. Lions.

Barker arrives in Toronto armed with more than 30 years of coaching experience in the CFL, XFL and NCAA, as well as three Grey Cup championships.

"I like the fact he's got a lot of CFL experience," former Argos linebacker Mike O'Shea said in an interview with CBCSports.ca. "I think that was a major mistake, hiring a guy [Andrus] who hired guys without CFL experience. I think that has spelled trouble pretty well anywhere it's happened.

"[Montreal head coach and former NFL assistant] Marc Trestman has certainly been very successful, but he also has guys that have CFL experience. And he has [all-star quarterback] Anthony Calvillo."

'It's a good feeling to have'

What O'Shea remembers from that 1999 season under Barker is the team always felt it had a chance to win.

"It's a good feeling to have," he said. "There are teams out there and players out there that take the field not believing they can win. That was never the case [for us]. That's an important part of the formula [for team success].

"As an ex-player, as a fan, we want to see a championship. I want to see my buddies win one."

Also at Tuesday's news conference, Argos president and chief executive officer Bob Nicholson said Adam Rita will remain Argos GM.

"We have been hard at work behind the scenes getting ready for the 2010 season," said Rita, whose future with the team has been in question since the end of the 2009 campaign.

Rita noted Barker's enthusiasm and knowledge of the CFL game are second to none.

"Jim has a leadership style our players will enjoy and flourish under," Rita said. "He is able to motivate players, maximize their abilities and put them in the best positions to make plays and win games."

Retired CFL quarterback Danny McManus played for Hamilton from 1998 to 2005 and often witnessed a wide-open offensive display by Barker-coached squads.

"You knew going into games you would have to score a lot of points. His teams always had that knack for putting points on the board. On our side, we had to make sure we matched it and when we got that break to take advantage of it," McManus, who primarily covers Florida, Georgia and Alabama for the Tiger-Cats as their southeast regional scout, said by phone from Florida.

Alouettes offensive co-ordinator Scott Milanovich turned down the Argos' offer 10 days ago, while Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall, former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Doug Berry and one-time Stampeders offensive guru George Cortez were believed to be in the running.

Cortez recently accepted the quarterbacks coaching job with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League.