Glen Young is on leave as defensive coordinator of the Toronto Argonauts until further notice. Along with defensive backs coach Joshua Bell. Veteran assistant Rich Stubler will call the defensive game plan for the Argos this week against Saskatchewan. Today, GM Michael Clemons told the media that Young would retain his DC title while he is on leave from the team.

Reports are that Young and DB coach Joshua Bell are away from the team because they have not followed MLSE’s vaccination policy, which requires all employees to be vaccinated. The Argonauts have not confirmed that. Both Bell and Young’s absence is being characterized as being of a personal nature.

The shakeup on Toronto’s staff comes after the team’s defense held Hamilton to 16 points on Friday night, registering 4 sacks and forcing a turnover. The Argos defense is currently 1st in the CFL against the run (65.6). And 4th in pass yards allowed per game. (253.2)

Toronto Argonauts Bringing Back Familiar Face?

The 3-2 East-leading Argos will head to Saskatchewan to play the 3-2 Roughriders on Friday. The week 7 clash could welcome a former Saskatchewan coach and a familiar face to the sidelines at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Early on Monday, Stephen Hargis of the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported that former CFL coach of the year, Chris Jones, is resigning as HC of his alma-mater South Pittsburg High School football team, effective immediately. And that Chris Jones was returning to the CFL to join the Toronto Argonauts, defensive staff. As of press time, the Toronto Argonauts have not confirmed the hiring of Chris Jones.

Chris Jones, a four-time Grey Cup-winning coach who spent time with the Boatmen as an assistant from 2012-2013, last coached in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2018. Jones was the Riders head coach and general manager from 2016-2018. In 2018, the Riders went 12-6 under Jones’s tutelage, leading to him garnering CFL coach of the year honors. Jones, who has a 53-37 head coaching record, led Edmonton in his first run at HC in Canada to a Grey-Cup championship in 2015.

In 2019, Chris Jones was hired by the Cleveland Browns as a special defensive assistant. He spent one season in Cleveland before the franchise overhauled its coaching staff in 2020. Jones has a reputation for being one of the CFL’s very best and most creative defensive coaches. Jones won the 100th Grey Cup as defensive coordinator for Toronto back in 2012.

Chris Jones also has a history with several members of the Argos coaching staff. OL Coach Stephen McAdoo was his assistant head coach in SSK. Also working under Jones with the Riders back then were current Toronto assistants Jarious Jackson and Markus Howell. Argonauts VP of player personnel John Murphy also worked alongside Jones as his assistant GM with the Riders.

For the Boatmen, the loss of two of their best assistants in Glen Young and rising star Joshua Bell will be challenging, but having Rich Stubler and potentially Chris Jones join the staff will help ease what should be a difficult in-season transition.