Argos renew deals for GM, coach
Milanovich has served on bench for three seasons
“It’s perfect to be a general manager and then have your hand-picked guy who’s your head coach.” ARGOS’ JIM BARKER, ON SCOTT MILANOVICH
The new ownership group of the Toronto Argonauts has extended the contracts of general manager Jim Barker and head coach Scott Milanovich by three years after the current CFL season.
Bell Canada and the Kilmer Group will assume control of the team at the end of the year from David Braley.
Milanovich is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Argos, having won the Grey Cup in his rookie year in 2012 and taking home honours as the CFL’s coach of the year.
Prior to coming to Toronto, Milanovich, 41, served five seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, one season with the Calgary Stampeders and three years in the NFL Europe in various coaching capacities.
Barker, 58, is entering his fifth season as GM in Toronto. He has also been a head coach with the Argos, first in 1999, returning for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He assumed the role as GM in December, 2010, and later was named CFL coach of the year for 2010.
Barker hired Milanovich to be head coach starting in the 2012 season. Prior to the 2012 season, Barker engineered the trade that brought quarterback Ricky Ray to Toronto from Edmonton.
Barker and Milanovich will complete this year under their current contracts before the new deal kicks in Feb. 1, 2016. Terms weren’t announced.
“It’s exciting,” Barker said in an interview. “The Kilmer Group and Bell are sports people and they know what it takes to win. It’s exciting to hear their visions of where the Argos are going.”
He said he and the ownership group had “extensive discussions” about the direction of the organization. He would not go into more details or describe the nature of the negotiations.
The Argos will move out of the cavernous Rogers Centre next year and into the cozy confines of BMO Field, where a better football atmosphere is expected.
“I’m just blessed to be a part of it all,” Barker said. “It obviously was important to Scott and I that things were going to be done the right way.”
Barker and Milanovich both see eye to eye in their football philosophy. In fact, Barker took the GM job with the idea he wanted to hire Milanovich.
“For me, it’s perfect to be a general manager and then have your handpicked guy who’s your head coach,” Barker said. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”
The newfound stability at both the ownership and front office levels should also offer a more attractive destination for free agents.