Clemons to continue coaching Argos
Saying he wants to continue to build on last season's success, Mike Clemons has decided to stay at the helm of the Toronto Argonauts.
On Tuesday, Clemons, nicknamed "Pinball" as a player, confirmed he was staying on as head coach of the Argos.
"Last season, we grew tremendously as a franchise as we fought to earn a playoff berth," Clemons said in a release.
"That to me was such a rewarding experience and I want to build on that success."
That wasn't the plan just a month ago. Previously, Clemons had said he wanted off the sidelines and back into the Argos' front office, only to change his mind.
"You have to look at giving yourself an opportunity to be successful at this," he said. "This isn't a case of, 'Let's see how it goes and if it doesn't go right we'll move back into the front office.'
"That option has been presented, but that isn't my idea of things. I want to take a good run at this."
The original plan was for Clemons to hire a well-seasoned CFL coach -- possibly Adam Rita, who was fired B.C. Lions following the season, or Hamilton Tiger-Cats coach Ron Lancaster-- so he could resume his role as the club's president.
But owner Sherwood Schwarz decided he wanted Clemons to stay on as coach. He was also the popular choice of Toronto fans.
"The thinking in the back of my mind was Mr. Schwarz wanted me to go back, all the fans probably want me to go back and then there was the realization that my wife wanted me to go back," Clemons said later at Tuesday media conference.
"More than that, I understood this was something I really enjoyed. It would be easier to walk away if you were 0-6 and people were throwing stuff at you.
"I think when you have success at it, there is the suggestion. If you fall flat on your face, it is a suggestion.
"Likewise, if you have success, it is a suggestion in a way that maybe this is what you're cut out for."
Clemons reportedly agreed to a three-year coaching contract.
"It's for as long as he wants and as long as he feels comfortable with it," Schwarz added. "When we talked about who was going to be coach, the important facts were Michael relates well with the players and brings out the best in the players.
"Isn't that what the coach is supposed to do?"
Clemons, who has served as team president since Nov. 19, 2001, reluctantly replaced fired Gary Etcheverry as head coach on Sept. 17.
At 4-8-0-0, the Boatmen were all but left for dead when he took hold of the tiller, yet experienced a remarkable about-face.
With Clemons aboard, the Boatmen surged to an improbable 4-2-0-0 finish and a playoff berth.
Toronto then surprised Saskatchewan, 24-14 in the CFL East Division semifinal before succumbing to eventual Grey Cup champion Montreal, 35-18 in the East Final.
To reach the final, the Argos followed up a 29-28 overtime upset at Hamilton with a 29-12 romp over Ottawa, outscoring the Renegades 22-3 over the final 25 minutes, then clinched a playoff berth by rallying back from a 29-10 halftime deficit to defeat Calgary, 33-32.
That momentum continued into the semifinal when, trailing 12-0, they rallied past the Roughriders, 24-14.
"Michael is just a great individual, a great person," Argos cornerback Adrion Smith said. "Everyone he comes into contact with, they seem to glow, they want to do that little extra.
"He brings out the best in you. You know you have a quality guy there, you know you have someone who is willing to fight for you and you want to fight for him."
Clemons is 17-17-1 in two stints as Argos head coach, a favourable record to the combined 5-14-1 of his predecessors, Etcheverry and the bombastic John Huard.
"Around the board, all of our free agents and potential free agents will look at this and see the Toronto Argonauts have some stability there," Smith continued. "It will be easier to attract a lot of guys and probably be easier for guys to stay around, so I think it was important that they made that move."
with files from Canadian Press