Milanovich to coach Argonauts: report

The Toronto Argonauts have seemingly settled on a new head coach.

The Argos have settled on Montreal Alouettes offensive co-ordinator Scott Milanovich for the job, a CFL source requesting anonymity told The Canadian Press on Friday. Toronto has offered Milanovich the position and a two-year deal, the source said.

Neither Argos president Bob Nicholson nor general manager Adam Rita immediately returned messages. Milanovich was in Mobile, Ala., with other Alouettes coaches attending the Senior Bowl and wasn't immediately available for comment either.

The move is somewhat surprising given that earlier in the week, word was that former Winnipeg head coach Doug Berry and Calgary Stampeders offensive co-ordinator George Cortez were the frontrunners for the post.

But a second CFL source said Friday that Cortez instead will be heading to the NFL's Buffalo Bills to join new coach Chan Gailey's staff as an assistant.

Milanovich, a former NFL, CFL and NFL Europe quarterback, would succeed Bart Andrus, who was fired last month after posting a 3-15 record last season, his first as a head coach in the CFL.

Milanovich, 37, has spent the last three seasons with the Alouettes. He joined the CFL club as its quarterbacks coach in 2007, was promoted to offensive co-ordinator the following season, and last year, he added the title of assistant head coach to his coaching resume.

Milanovich has worked well with Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman as Montreal has reached the Grey Cup the last two years, beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28-27 in the 2009 final.

Potent offence

Under the leadership of Milanovich and Trestman, the Alouettes have boasted a potent offence with veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who has been named the league's outstanding player the past two seasons.

But while Milanovich served as Montreal's quarterbacks coach and was involved in the club's weekly game planning, it was Trestman who called the plays for the Alouettes offence.

Milanovich would take over an Argos team that's missed the playoffs the last two years in winning just seven of 36 games. He also would become the club's fourth head coach in the past two seasons.

A big part of Toronto's problems has been an anemic offence that's been last or near the bottom of the CFL's major offensive categories. The Argos had high hopes two years ago when they acquired quarterback Kerry Joseph, the league's outstanding player in 2007 who led Saskatchewan to the Grey Cup that season. But Joseph has failed miserably in his two seasons with the Double Blue.

But at least Milanovich comes to Toronto with CFL experience, something Andrus was sorely lacking when he was hired last year. He played for the Calgary Stampeders in 2003 before becoming the club's quarterbacks coach.

Milanovich also spent time coaching in NFL Europe as a quarterbacks coach and offensive co-ordinator.