14 candidates to be the Toronto Argonauts' next head coach

The Ottawa Redblacks announced the hiring of Ryan Dinwiddie as their new head coach and general manager on Wednesday, leaving the Toronto Argonauts without a head coach for 2026. With general manager Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons indicating that a head coaching search is already underway, it’s time to take stock of who the Boatmen could hire to steer their ship as they look to bounce back from the rough waters they experienced in 2025.

Below are 14 candidates to become the next head coach of the Toronto Argonauts. They are listed alphabetically by last name.

Byron Archambault

The 35-year-old has an impressive resumé for a coach of his age, having served three seasons as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at his alma mater, the Université de Montréal, and five seasons in essentially the same roles with the Alouettes. Archambault also has personnel experience as he’s served as Montreal’s director of player personnel since 2021. If the Argonauts want someone young and versatile to replace Dinwiddie, Archambault could be the best candidate.

Josh Bell

The 40-year-old is in his eighth year as a CFL assistant and currently serves as the pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Corey Mace has been highly successful early in his CFL head coaching career, and Bell is one of his right-hand men, serving on staff with him with the Calgary Stampeders, Argonauts, and Roughriders. The native of Los Angeles, Calif., also played six seasons as a CFL defensive back, earning an All-West Division selection in 2015.

Pete Costanza

The 56-year-old has won six Grey Cups over 17 seasons as an assistant coach with the Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Argonauts. Costanza has experience as a head coach dating back to his days in arena football, and his skills as a pass game coordinator should be in demand, particularly given the short supply of available offensive minds with CFL experience. Whether it’s Jake Herslow, Kevin Mital, DaVaris Daniels, or Damonte Coxie, the native of Blairstown, N.J., has helped develop several impact receivers.

Pat DelMonaco

The longtime coach has been an assistant with Calgary since 2014, and his stock should be on the rise given his team’s improvement in 2025. DelMonaco has an offensive line background, having coached the position since he entered the CFL in 2010, though he has also been Calgary’s offensive coordinator since 2021. The native of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., has won two Grey Cups with the Stampeders and could be the perfect fit for the Argonauts, considering the sorry state of their offensive line this season.

Mickey Donovan

The native of Laconia, N.H., was born south of the border but has been in and around Canadian football since he was a standout linebacker at Concordia University, winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2004. Donovan has seven years of CFL experience, including the last four as the special teams coordinator in Toronto. Janarion Grant was named the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player under his guidance in 2024 when Donovan won the second of his two Grey Cup rings.

Kevin Eiben

The 46-year-old played 11 seasons at linebacker for the Argonauts, earning five All-East Division selections and three All-CFL selections. The native of Delta, B.C., has been on staff with Toronto for the past eight seasons, serving stints as special teams coordinator, linebackers coach, and co-defensive coordinator. Eiben is a four-time Grey Cup champion, has coached multiple phases of the game, and he’s as drenched in double blue as anyone out there. He’d be a natural fit for the team’s head coaching job.

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

Jarious Jackson

The 48-year-old native of Tupelo, Miss., helped turn around the Edmonton Elks in 2024 after taking over as their interim head coach, going 7-6 down the stretch. Though he wasn’t retained by the team, Jackson was the quarterbacks coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this season and seems poised for a promotion. The former NFL draft pick played nine seasons at quarterback in the CFL, including one with the Argonauts, and served as Toronto’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2021.

Mike Miller

The native of Pittsburgh, Pa. has been the quarterbacks coach with the Argonauts since 2022, helping Chad Kelly win Most Outstanding Player in 2023 and Nick Arbuckle reach all-new career-highs in 2025. The 55-year-old spent eight seasons in the NFL, serving as the offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals for two years. Given his experience and how well he’s worked with the team’s quarterbacks, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Miller get the promotion to head coach following Dinwiddie’s departure.

Brent Monson

The native of Hamilton, Ont., made the most of his first year as the defensive coordinator for his hometown Tiger-Cats, as his unit finished first in takeaways to help secure first place in the East Division. Monson spent the previous 16 years with the Stampeders, including five seasons as defensive coordinator, helping them win two Grey Cups. After playing for the Canadian Junior Football League’s Burlington Braves and starting his CFL career as a video assistant, Monson has paid his dues every step of the way.

Marc Mueller

The 36-year-old is in his second season as the offensive coordinator with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and has helped Trevor Harris play some of his best football as he approaches age 40. The native of Regina, Sask., won two Grey Cups on staff with the Stampeders and is the grandson of CFL legend Ron Lancaster, so it’s always felt like just a matter of time before he gets the chance to become a head coach. If the Argonauts want a young offensive mind to take the lead, Mueller would arguably be the best bet.

Mike O’Shea

The long-tenured head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers isn’t under contract for next season and has strong ties to the Argonauts, spending 12 seasons as a Hall of Fame linebacker and four years as special teams coordinator. The six-time Grey Cup champion has gone 117-77 over 11 seasons in Winnipeg, leading the team to five Grey Cup appearances and two championships. The 55-year-old native of North Bay, Ont., is close with Toronto general manager Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons.

Orlondo Steinauer

The native of Seattle, Wash., has spent the last two years as the president of football operations with the Tiger-Cats, though he was the team’s head coach for four seasons prior. Steinauer went 39-29 as the head coach in Steeltown, winning the East Division and the CFL’s Coach of the Year award in 2019. The 52-year-old is a Canadian Football Hall of Fame defensive back who spent eight seasons with the Argonauts before a three-year stint as the team’s defensive backs coach.

Noel Thorpe

The native of Vancouver, B.C., has been a CFL assistant coach since 2002 and has served as the defensive coordinator in Montreal for the past four seasons. His units have been consistently strong, finishing first in yards allowed per play in 2025. The two-time Grey Cup champion deserves a chance to be a CFL head coach at some point, and there could be no time better than the present based on his recent success if the Argonauts are looking for someone with a defensive mind.

Jordan Younger

The 47-year-old native of Trenton, N.J., has been the defensive coordinator of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the past two seasons, helping the team finish first in offensive points allowed both years. Younger played nine seasons as a CFL defensive back, almost exclusively with the Argonauts, and has won four Grey Cups — two as a player and two as a coach. Given the success Buck Pierce has had in his first year with the B.C. Lions, it might not be a bad idea for Toronto to pick a Winnipeg coordinator as their next head coach.

14 candidates to be the Toronto Argonauts’ next head coach

Tags: