Pinball Clemons leaves coaching for Argos' front office

Michael (Pinball) Clemons turned in his track suit for a suit and tie Tuesday as he stepped down as coach of the Toronto Argonauts to become the Canadian Football League team's chief executive officer.

Defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler will take over as coach, sources said, while former Ottawa Renegades executive Brad Watters was named chief operating officer.

Clemons leaves the sidelines after guiding the Argos to an 11-7 record this season anda 65-55-1 career tally. His final game was a 19-9 loss to Winnipeg in the East Division final.

The former running back and kick returner has spent 19 years with Toronto as a player, coach and president.

"I have been very fortunate in my life and today I embark upon a new phase of my career, and again life has smiled on me," Clemons, 42, said at a news conference. "I am aware of and excited by the unique challenges that persist in our marketplace.

"I'm still coaching, this time a different type of team."

As CEO, Clemons will be responsible for the overall vision and direction of the Argonauts. He will also oversee football operations — acting as a key resource for vice-president of football operations Adam Rita — and serve as the team's governor at league meetings.

Outside of football, Clemons operates two successful businesses, Simply Kids and a consulting firm, and is a leading motivational speaker.

During his illustrious 12-year CFL playing career, Clemons established a pro football record for most career combined yards with 25,396.

He retired on Sept. 15, 2000, to move directly into coaching the Argos.

Clemons left coaching to become the club's president after the 2001 season but returned to the sidelines during the 2002 campaign when Gary Etcheverry was fired.

He was a finalist for CFL coach of the year every year between 2002 and 2006.

Watters, who headed the operations of this year's Grey Cup in Toronto, will manage the club's day-to-day business dealings, including marketing, corporate partnerships and sales.

"[Argos co-owner] David [Cynamon] and I are thrilled to install Michael and Brad at the helm of the Toronto Argonauts," said fellow co-owner Howard Sokolowski. "Their combined leadership, vision and business acumen will take this team to the next plateau.

"Their skill sets complement one another and we feel lucky to be able to secure these two men as our management team."

Keith Pelley served as Argos president for four years before leaving the team last week to become president of the CTV-Rogers consortium that will broadcast the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and 2012 Summer Olympics in London.