List of Toronto Argonauts head coaches
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario, and play in the East Division in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
The franchise was founded as in 1873 and was a founding member of the Ontario Rugby Football Union in 1883 and of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union in 1907. In their long history, the team has appeared in 23 Grey Cup finals, and has won a league-high 17 championships. The franchise has had 59 head coaches in its history.[1] The current Argonauts head coach is Ryan Dinwiddie, the current general manager is Michael Clemons, and the current owner is Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.[2][3]
Key
[edit]| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| GC | Games coached |
| W | Wins |
| L | Losses |
| T | Ties |
| W% | Winning percentage[b] |
| PGC | Playoff games coached |
| PW | Playoff wins |
| PL | Playoff losses |
| PW% | Playoff winning percentage |
| † | Elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in the builders category[4] |
Head coaches
[edit]Note: Statistics are current through the end of the 2024 CFL season.
-
Chaucer Elliott coached for two stints with the Argonauts, including their last season in the ORFU in 1906. -
-
-
Ryan Dinwiddie is the team's current head coach.
| # | Name[a] | Term[b] | GC | W | L | T | W% | PGC | PW | PL | PW% | Achievements[5][6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H. T. Glazebrook | 1873–1874 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2 | Harold Lambe | 1875 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 3 | W. H. Perram | 1876–1877 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 4 | Bedford | 1878 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 5 | Orville Murphy | 1880–1881 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 6 | Hume Blake (1st stint) | 1882 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 7 | A. H. Campbell | 1883 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| - | Hume Blake (2nd stint) | 1884 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 8 | Rupert Muntz | 1885–1886 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 9 | Hugh Smith | 1887–1890 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 10 | R. Bayley | 1891–892 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 11 | Billy Wood | 1893 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 12 | Joe Wright, Sr. | 1894–1900 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 14 | Pud Kent | 1901–1903 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 15 | Fred Thompson | 1904–1905 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 16 | Chaucer Elliott (1st stint) | 1906 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | — | — | — | — | |
| 17 | Fred Russell/Art Kent | 1907–1909 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | .167 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Chaucer Elliott (2nd stint) | 1910 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | |
| 18 | Billy Foulds† (1st stint) | 1911 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |
| 19 | Jack Newton† | 1912 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |
| 20 | Ross Binkley | 1913 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Billy Foulds† (2nd stint) | 1914 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 6th Grey Cup championship |
| 21 | Billy Foulds† (2nd stint)/Warren Coryell | 1915 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | — | — | — | — | |
| 22 | Sinc McEvenue (1st stint) | 1919 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | |
| 23 | Mike Rodden† (1st stint) | 1920 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .833 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |
| - | Sinc McEvenue (2nd stint) | 1921 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | 9th Grey Cup championship |
| 24 | Jack O'Connor | 1922–1925 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 3 | .646 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |
| - | Mike Rodden† (2nd stint) | 1926 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | |
| 25 | Frank Knight | 1927–1928 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | .333 | — | — | — | — | |
| 26 | Buck McKenna | 1929–1932 | 24 | 13 | 10 | 1 | .563 | — | — | — | — | |
| 27 | Lew Hayman† | 1933–1941 | 57 | 40 | 15 | 2 | .719 | 20 | 12 | 8 | .600 | 21st Grey Cup championship 25th Grey Cup championship 26th Grey Cup championship |
| 28 | Ted Morris | 1945–1949 | 54 | 29 | 21 | 4 | .574 | 11 | 10 | 1 | .909 | 33rd Grey Cup championship 34th Grey Cup championship 35th Grey Cup championship |
| 29 | Frank Clair† | 1950–1954 | 64 | 31 | 31 | 2 | .500 | 11 | 8 | 3 | .727 | 38th Grey Cup championship 40th Grey Cup championship |
| 30 | Bill Swiacki | 1955–1956 | 26 | 8 | 10 | 0 | .444 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |
| 31 | Hamp Pool | 1957–1959 | 32 | 9 | 23 | 0 | .281 | — | — | — | — | |
| 32 | Steve Owen | 1959 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | |
| 33 | Lou Agase | 1960–1962 | 31 | 17 | 13 | 1 | .565 | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |
| 34 | Nobby Wirkowski | 1962–1964 | 39 | 11 | 28 | 0 | .282 | — | — | — | — | |
| 35 | Bob Shaw | 1965–1966 | 28 | 8 | 20 | 0 | .286 | — | — | — | — | |
| 36 | Leo Cahill (1st stint) | 1967–1972 | 84 | 45 | 38 | 1 | .542 | 10 | 6 | 4 | .400 | 1971 Annis Stukus Trophy winner |
| 37 | John Rauch | 1973–1974 | 21 | 10 | 9 | 2 | .524 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |
| 38 | Joe Moss | 1974 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | .389 | — | — | — | — | |
| 39 | Russ Jackson | 1975–1976 | 32 | 12 | 18 | 2 | .406 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Leo Cahill (2nd stint) | 1977–1978 | 25 | 9 | 16 | 0 | .360 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |
| 40 | Bud Riley | 1978 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | .143 | — | — | — | — | |
| 41 | Forrest Gregg | 1979 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | — | — | — | — | |
| 42 | Willie Wood | 1980–1981 | 26 | 6 | 20 | 0 | .231 | — | — | — | — | |
| 43 | Tommy Hudspeth | 1981 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | — | — | — | — | |
| 44 | Bob O'Billovich† (1st stint) | 1982–1989 | 136 | 78 | 55 | 3 | .585 | 12 | 6 | 6 | .500 | 1982 Annis Stukus Trophy winner 1987 Annis Stukus Trophy winner 71st Grey Cup championship |
| 45 | Don Matthews† (1st stint) | 1990 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |
| 46 | Adam Rita | 1991–1992 | 29 | 16 | 13 | 0 | .552 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 1991 Annis Stukus Trophy winner 79th Grey Cup championship |
| 47 | Dennis Meyer | 1992–1993 | 17 | 4 | 13 | 0 | .235 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Bob O'Billovich† (2nd stint) | 1993–1994 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 0 | .346 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |
| 48 | Mike Faragalli | 1995 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Bob O'Billovich† (3rd stint) | 1995 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Don Matthews† (2nd stint) | 1996–1998 | 54 | 39 | 15 | 0 | .722 | 5 | 4 | 1 | .800 | 1997 Annis Stukus Trophy winner 84th Grey Cup championship 85th Grey Cup championship |
| 49 | Jim Barker (1st stint) | 1999 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |
| 50 | John Huard | 2000 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | .189 | — | — | — | — | |
| 51 | Wally Highsmith (interim) | 2000 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | — | — | — | — | |
| 52 | Michael Clemons (1st stint) | 2000–2001 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 0 | .462 | — | — | — | — | |
| 53 | Gary Etcheverry | 2002 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | — | — | — | — | |
| Michael Clemons (2nd stint) | 2002–2007 | 96 | 55 | 40 | 1 | .578 | 11 | 6 | 5 | .545 | 92nd Grey Cup championship | |
| 54 | Rich Stubler | 2008 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Don Matthews† (3rd stint) | 2008 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | |
| 55 | Bart Andrus | 2009 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | .167 | — | — | — | — | |
| - | Jim Barker (2nd stint) | 2010–2011 | 36 | 15 | 21 | 0 | .417 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2010 Annis Stukus Trophy winner |
| 56 | Scott Milanovich | 2012–2016 | 90 | 43 | 47 | 0 | .478 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | 2012 Annis Stukus Trophy winner 100th Grey Cup championship |
| 57 | Marc Trestman | 2017–2018 | 36 | 13 | 23 | 0 | .361 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 2017 Annis Stukus Trophy winner 105th Grey Cup championship |
| 58 | Corey Chamblin | 2019 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 0 | .286 | — | — | — | — | |
| 59 | Ryan Dinwiddie | 2020–present | 68 | 46 | 22 | 0 | .676 | 7 | 5 | 2 | .714 | 2023 Annis Stukus Trophy winner 109th Grey Cup championship 111th Grey Cup championship |
All-Time Records
[edit]Top 5 Coaches by Regular Season Wins
[edit]| Rank | Coach | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob O'Billovich | 89 |
| 2 | Michael "Pinball" Clemons | 67 |
| 3 | Leo Cahill | 54 |
| 4 | Don Matthews | 49 |
| 5 | Ryan Dinwiddie | 46 |
Top 5 Coaches by Playoff Wins
[edit]| Rank | Coach | Playoff Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lew Hayman | 12 |
| 2 | Ted Morris | 10 |
| 3 | Frank Clair | 8 |
| T-4 | Leo Cahill | 6 |
| T-4 | Michael "Pinball" Clemons | 6 |
| T-4 | Bob O'Billovich | 6 |
Top 5 Coaches by Regular Season Games Coached
[edit]| Rank | Coach | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob O'Billovich | 171 |
| 2 | Michael "Pinball" Clemons | 122 |
| 3 | Leo Cahill | 109 |
| 4 | Scott Milanovich | 90 |
| 5 | Don Matthews | 80 |
Top 5 Coaches by Playoff Games Coached
[edit]| Rank | Coach | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lew Hayman | 20 |
| 2 | Bob O'Billovich | 13 |
| T-3 | Leo Cahill | 11 |
| T-3 | Frank Clair | 11 |
| T-3 | Michael "Pinball" Clemons | 11 |
| T-3 | Ted Morris | 11 |
Coaches with Grey Cup Championships
[edit]| Coach | Grey Cup Championships | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Ted Morris | 3 | 1933, 1937, 1938 |
| Lew Hayman | 3 | 1945, 1946, 1947 |
| Don Matthews | 2 | 1996, 1997 |
| Frank Clair | 2 | 1950, 1952 |
| Ryan Dinwiddie | 2 | 2022, 2024 |
| Michael "Pinball" Clemons | 1 | 2004 |
| Billy Foulds | 1 | 1914 |
| Scott Milanovich | 1 | 2012 |
| Sinc McEvenue | 1 | 1921 |
| Bob O'Billovich | 1 | 1983 |
| Adam Rita | 1 | 1991 |
| Marc Trestman | 1 | 2017 |
Coaches with Coach of the Year Awards
[edit]| Coach | Coach of the Year Awards | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Bob O'Billovich | 2 | 1982, 1987 |
| Jim Barker | 1 | 2010 |
| Leo Cahill | 1 | 1971 |
| Ryan Dinwiddie | 1 | 2023 |
| Don Matthews | 1 | 1997 |
| Scott Milanovich | 1 | 2012 |
| Adam Rita | 1 | 1991 |
| Marc Trestman | 1 | 2017 |
Notes
[edit]- a A running total of the number of coaches of the Argonauts. Thus, any coach who has two or more separate terms as head coach is only counted once.
- b Entries prior to 1907 are taken from "Year-By-Year History" in the references. A consolidated list after 1907 is listed at "Toronto Argonauts All-Time Coaching."
References
[edit]- General
- "Toronto Argonauts All-Time Coaching". Toronto Argonauts. Archived from the original on April 22, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- "History of the Toronto Argonauts". Canadian Football League. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- "Year-By-Year History". Toronto Argonauts. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- Specific
- ^ "Argonauts name Scott Milanovich Head Coach". Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
- ^ "MLSE completes acquisition of Argos; name Manning as President". cfl.ca. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- ^ "Ryan Dinwiddie named 45th head coach in Argos history". Toronto Argonauts. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- ^ "Toronto Argonauts Hall of Fame" (PDF). Toronto Argonauts. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- ^ "Toronto Argonauts Media Guide" (PDF). Toronto Argonauts. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 30, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
- ^ "Coach of the Year". Canadian Football League. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2011.