Argos hire familiar face as head coach

Corey Chamblin was named head coach of the Toronto Argonauts on Monday, returning to the team he helped guide to a Grey Cup victory in 2017 as defensive co-ordinator.

Chamblin, 41, spent this past season at the University of Arkansas as a quality control and defensive backs coach. He succeeds Marc Trestman, who was fired shortly after the Argonauts completed a 4-14 regular season.

“We believe Corey is the best possible fit to help bring the Toronto Argonauts football club back to the top of the CFL,” team president Bill Manning said in a release. “Our organization’s ultimate goal is to win Grey Cups for our city and fans and bringing Corey back to Toronto is the first step in reaching those goals.”

Chamblin becomes the 44th head coach in team history.

“I am extremely excited to be back in Toronto,” Chamblin said. “This is a very talented roster with whom I have experience with. Winning Grey Cups is the objective and with the support I have received from ownership, the sky is the limit for this team.”

The Toronto defence had six East Division all-stars and was tied for the league in sacks (50) when Chamblin was defensive co-ordinator last year.

The native of Birmingham, Ala., was head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders between 2012-16. Chamblin was named coach of the year and led the Roughriders to a Grey Cup in 2013.

Chamblin was a defensive coordinator in 2011 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after spending three seasons as a defensive backs coach with the Calgary Stampeders.

He also held defensive backs coaching positions in Winnipeg (2007) and with Frankfurt of NFL Europe (2006).

“Corey’s leadership, CFL experience, and familiarity with the Argonauts family catapulted him to the top of the list of candidates and made the decision clear who our next head coach will be,” Popp said. “He is a former Grey Cup-winning head coach so he knows what it takes to win and we are thrilled he is back in Double Blue.”

As a player, Chamblin spent time between 1999 and 2004 with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.