By Perry Lefko
SPORTSNET.CA
The decision to hire Don Matthews as the new coach of the Toronto Argonauts happened in a period of only 24 hours and money didn’t factor into the decision, according to one of the team’s owners.
David Cynamon, who owns the team with Howard Sokolowski, said Matthews hasn’t been offered a wad of cash to take over the team from Rich Stubler, who was fired on Monday. Cynamon talked to Matthews and personally negotiated the deal.
"This is not a big financial play at all," Cynamon told Sportsnet.ca. "People would be shocked (at the financial terms) and it’s just until the end of the year. It’s not about the money. When I spoke to him he passionately wanted to be back in the game. That was impressive."
Cynamon said the team wasn’t considering a coaching change before the game against Montreal last Sunday – the Argos lost 45-18 – and certainly not bringing in an outsider. The loss to Montreal dropped the Argos to 4-6, second in the East, six points behind the Als and four points ahead of Winnipeg and Hamilton.
But Matthews’ name surfaced after the loss when general manager Adam Rita talked to him and ascertained that he would be interested in coaching again, in particular the Argos with whom he had coached on two previous occasions and knows many of the personnel in the team’s football and business operations.
"In 24 hours, this thing took on a life of its own," Cynamon said. "He was the only person in this situation as far as an outsider was concerned."
Cynamon added that neither Argos’ chief executive officer (and former head coach Pinball Clemons) nor Rita were serious candidates to replace Stubler.
"(Matthews) was the only option," Cynamon said. "Maybe Pinball, maybe Adam, but it was never an option. We considered it, but they weren’t ones that were really eager or willing to do it. It wasn’t a great option. Both are qualified, but you’ve got to have two eager parties."
Cynamon had praise for Stubler, who had been with the team full-time since the 2003 season as the defensive co-ordinator and subsequently had the title of assistant head coach added to his title.
"I love Rich. He’s a great guy," Cynamon said. "He gave us a chance to win every year but this year."
Cynamon said when he observed the mood of the team on the sidelines in Montreal and in the dressing room after the game, there was a definite lack of energy and it didn’t look to him that Stubler wanted to be the head coach anymore. That said, Cynamon believes Stubler will surface fairly quickly in some coaching capacity in the league.
"I think somebody will pick him up as a defensive co-ordinator this year and he’ll be a head coach again, that’s my guess," Cynamon said.
Cynamon said Matthews is potentially taking a risk coming into this situation, knowing he could be subjected to criticism if he doesn’t succeed.
"There’s no miracles. I don’t think you can push a button and it happens," Cynamon said. "It allows Adam to put his thoughts into the team."
