TORONTO -
The Toronto Argonauts are hoping a former NFL assistant coach can turn things around for the struggling team.
The CFL club officially introduced Bart Andrus as their new head coach Friday. He comes to the Argos from the NFL's Tennessee Titans where he was an offensive assistant this season.
While he has no CFL experience, Andrus is confident he can do the job.
"I'm very happy to be here," Andrus said during a news conference. "I'm an adventurer. I look at this as a new challenge. I would not be here, without a doubt, if I didn't think I could do the job."
Andrus, 50, takes over for veteran coach Don Matthews, who resigned after posting an 0-8 record upon replacing Rich Stubler as coach in September. Toronto finished third in the East Division with a dismal 4-14 record to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
The Montreal Alouettes experienced success with an NFL coach last year as Marc Trestman led the team to first place in the East Division with an 11-7 record and eventual berth in the Grey Cup.
Andrus says he is familiar with the Canadian game.
"I've always watched the game," he said. "I've got friends that coach in the league."
Andrus does have previous head-coaching experience, having spent seven seasons leading NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals before joining the Titans.
The hiring of Andrus concludes an exhaustive search by the Argos, who interviewed between 15 and 20 candidates throughout North America.
Argos GM Adam Rita and player-personnel director Greg Mohns met with Andrus several weeks ago but he was unable to talk specifics with Toronto as long as the Titans were in the NFL playoffs. Tennessee's season ended last Saturday with a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Andrus played his college football at Montana, serving as the school's quarterback until his graduation in 1981. As a coach, Andrus worked with former Tennessee Titans star Steve McNair as well as Gibran Hamden, the Buffalo Bills' No. 3 quarterback who was NFL Europe's 2006 offensive MVP with Amsterdam.
That should be good news for Argos starter Kerry Joseph, the 2007 CFL outstanding player with Saskatchewan who struggled to show that form this season after being dealt to Toronto.
Then again, Toronto's offence struggled to do much this season. The unit was last in the CFL in total yards (347.3 per game) and second-last in points scored (21 per game), rushing (93.3 yards) and sacks allowed (48). The once-heralded defence -- for years the franchise's anchor -- fell off dramatically in '08, finishing last in points allowed (30.5 per game), touchdowns allowed (60) and rushing yards allowed (162.3 per game) and second-last in total yards allowed (414) and sacks (27).
The Argos also feature an aging roster, meaning Andrus will have some tough lineup decisions to make.
