Pinball coaching Argos in '07

Argonauts president Keith Pelley got the answer he was hoping for Thursday.

Four days after Toronto fell 33-24 to Montreal in the CFL East final, coach Michael (Pinball) Clemons notified Pelley of his decision to remain on the sidelines next season, the Toronto Star reported.

"Mike is the coach of the year [for 2006] as far as I'm concerned," Pelley told the Star. "He took the team from when it faced an onslaught of injuries and had a 2-5 record to winning eight of the last 11 games."

Last season, Clemons led the 11-7 Argos to a fourth consecutive playoff appearance and first division title since 1997.

In 2004, Clemons led the team to its first Grey Cup victory since 1997, his first year as coach.

The Argos will host the 2007 Grey Cup at the Rogers Centre, the first time the Canadian Football League championship has been held in Toronto in 15 years.

The Alouettes and B.C. Lions face each other this Sunday in the 94th Grey Cup in Winnipeg (CBC, 3 p.m. ET).