Jim Barker coached the Argos previously in 1999.

BY PERRY LEFKO
sportsnet.ca

The Toronto Argonauts will name Jim Barker of the Calgary Stampeders as their new head coach, sportsnet.ca has learned.

Two sources confirmed that Barker, who coached the Argos in 1999 and had a 9-9 regular-season record and then lost in the first round of the playoffs, will be named as the latest head coach of the Argos, who finished last in the Canadian Football League last year with a 3-15 record. Barker is currently the Stampeders' senior vice-president of football operations/director of player personnel.

Barker's hiring comes as a surprise because he had not been considered in the running for the job. It had been assumed that Hamilton Tiger-Cats' defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall would be hired as head coach. Marshall has been bypassed several times for head coaching jobs, most recently in Winnipeg. Barker had been on the short list for the Winnipeg general manager job.

It's expected Barker will have a major say in the Argos' personnnel decisions, although Adam Rita may still be the general manager of record.

Barker had an excellent rapport with the players, fans and media in 1999, but lost his job when when the team changed ownership. The Argo president at the time of his hiring in 1999 was Bob Nicholson, who re-joined the team last year as president, and he has an excellent rapport with Barker.

Besides his head coaching experience, Barker has an excellent grasp of CFL personnel, which he's going to need joining the Argos at this juncture of the season because free agency begins February 16th.

Barker's hiring could be made official as early as Monday.