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The Pinball is taking one more bounce with the Toronto Argonauts, upstairs to the executive suite.
Michael Clemons will become the chief executive officer of the Canadian Football League franchise, turning over the coaching reins for next season, likely to defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler.
"I am still a coach, but I have a different team," he said, referring to the management staff. "I will not pose. I am not here to hold a position just to say that I am still with the Toronto Argonauts. My job is to coach and improve ownership in the front office."
The coaching assignment will be announced officially at a later date. Tuesday's news conference at Rogers Centre belonged to the much-loved Clemons, who for 19 seasons has been the optimistic and ever-smiling face of the Argonauts.
Michael 'Pinball' Clemons coached the Argos to the Grey Cup in 2004. (Ryan Remiorz/CP)
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Clemons retired as the Argos' greatest ball carrier and kick returner in 2000 to become the team's head coach. He was promoted from head coach to president on Nov. 20, 2001, but in less than a year, he was asked to be back on the sidelines again, replacing the fired Gary Etcheverry on an interim basis.
Clemons later agreed to relinquish his duties as team president, and embark on a second stint as head coach on Dec. 17, 2002.
In his career, Clemons has won four Grey Cups with the Argos — three as a player and one as head coach.
Coaching was a job in which Clemons's nurturing and paternalistic side was as important as his technical understanding of the game. He was willing to give a chance to players who clashed with management in other places or had problematic pasts, from Andre Rison to Ricky Williams. He was the definitive players' coach.
He had actually considered retirement as coach before this, but elected to stay on when Toronto was selected to be the host city for the 2007 Grey Cup for the first time in 15 years. The dream of getting the Argos to the championship game one more time fell a game short. Clemons directed Toronto to an 11-7 record this season, clinching first place in the East Division before losing 19-9 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the division final. He steps away from the sideline with a head coaching record of 68-55-1.
Brad Watters, an experienced sports executive who most recently chaired the successful and profitable ($5-million) 95th Grey Cup in Toronto, will be hired as chief operating officer under Clemons.
Watters has been president of the now-defunct Ottawa Renegades and the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League.
The moves are part of a general restructuring in Argonaut management, following the departure of four-year president Keith Pelley to become president of the CTV-Rogers consortium that will broadcast the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The shuffle will have effects down the line. Stubler's move up to head coach leaves a vacancy at defensive co-ordinator. That post could be filled by current defensive assistant Kavis Reed.
The Argos might also be in the market for an offensive co-ordinator. Steve Buratto is interviewing for the Alouettes' head coaching job, as Jim Popp returns to the sole role as general manager.
Clemons made the decision to move upstairs after discussing the future with his wife, Diane. He did that last week and then made his intentions known to Argos co-owners Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon.
