Right man for the job

Scott Milanovich has given up stability, security and success with the Montreal Alouettes to become head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, an organization that couldn't be more the opposite.

The Als have had the same general manager since 1996, the same owner since 1997, the same starting quarterback since 2001 and the same head coach since 2008.

The only consistent thing about the Argos in recent years has been their team name. Even their logo and uniform has gone through various changes.

Two years ago, the Argos offered Milanovich, then the offensive co-ordinator of the Alouettes, the job as their head coach. He politely declined. But now the timing was right.

Shortly into his introduction as the 42nd head coach in the Argos' 139-year history, Milanovich explained, without being asked, why the situation wasn't as favourable to him then as now. While reports suggested it had to do with a low-ball contract in terms of term and pay, Milanovich provided the real reason,

"Part of the reason it's so appealing now is because of Mr. Braley's presence," he said. "Mr. Braley's involvement has made this a much more impressive opportunity for me now."

Mr. Braley is team owner David Braley, who just won the Grey Cup with his other Canadian Football League team, the B.C. Lions. He has had eminent success since taking ownership of the team in 1996. He has built it up from the financial ruins and has enjoyed success on and off the field. And the team has had stable management and coaching, both with Wally Buono.

But the Argos are different.

They hire coaches and then fire them midway through their first season, at the end of their initial year or see them voluntarily give up the job after two years. Jim Barker, who was hired for the job the Argos originally presented to Milanovich, did the assignment for two years, adding the managerial portfolio in year two. He decided henceforth the timing was right to abdicate the coaching role. He was lauded as Coach of the Year in 2010 for winning nine regular-season games after the organization accumulated all of seven wins with three separate head coaches the previous two years. But Barker managed only six wins last year, clearly labouring having to do two roles and nurturing a young staff of assistants, with little to no experience coaching at any level.

Milanovich brings a wealth of experience and a long history with Barker, both as a player and later as an assistant coach. This is a good fit. Milanovich met all the criteria Barker wanted: young, bright, successful and capable of handling the pressure of coaching in Toronto.

"He was the only coach in North America that met this criteria that was available and I knew we had to act promptly," Barker said.

So promptly that an hour after last Sunday's Grey Cup it was leaked that Milanovich had verbally agreed to join the Argos, which the team denied. Then came the revelation the new coach is assembling a staff that included the Calgary Stampeders' defensive co-ordinator, Chris Jones, who was still under contract.

It was hardly the way to usher in a new head coach, but there is the right way to do things and then there is the Argo way.

"This is the realization of a dream for me," Milanovich said, speaking specifically about becoming a head coach. He offered a background of how 30 years ago his father pinned a white bedsheet to a wall and showed him game film. It was a rudimentary education about football and leadership. As a native of Pennsylvania, he dreamed of one day coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers. It may yet happen some day, but for now he is the Argos head coach. He wouldn't talk of winning the Grey Cup, but merely "living in the moment" each day, so that by the end of the season the team will have reached its desired destiny.

He talked about the quarterbacking situation more in the abstract than in specifics. Incumbent starter Steven Jyles, who was scheduled to be a free agent in February, has reportedly been signed to an extension - again, via some whispering. Barker would only say the team is working with the pivot on a new deal and hoped to have an announcement soon.

And what of Milanovich's staff?

"There will be no announcements on assistant coaches," Milanovich said summarily.

The CFL head office is currently "having a few discussions to get a better understanding of what happened" concerning the Jones controversy.

Milanovich would only concede he is in a hurry to get all of his assistants in place and would hope to have an announcement in the next week or two.

Barker intervened by saying Milanovich and Jones have a long history together.

"We never asked to speak to Chris Jones because he wasn't available," Barker said. "We did not go after Chris Jones or pursue Chris Jones. As far as what I understand, he went to coach Hufnagel and asked if he could come to Toronto to be with his friend."

In the end, it really won't matter, unless the CFL concludes its due diligence and decides the Argos acted inappropriately. The betting is there will be no sanctions other than to say the situation could have been handled with more transparency.

Going forward, Milanovich's task will be to survive what has been so much instability for Argo head coaches in recent years. It's no longer about the proverbial Xs and Os but macro decisions. Milanovich plans to ask the players for their input.

"Having said that, the buck stops here," Milanovich said. "The leadership is going to come from the top down."

If he is so fortunate to survive the baptism period beyond a year - or even less - and win a Grey Cup, well, presumably he won't jump the Argo ship to join another organization, say the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.