THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Mike O’Shea is back as the Toronto Argonauts’ special-teams coordinator.
The CFL club announced O’Shea’s return Thursday. The former star linebacker had been interviewed this off
-season by both the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats for their respective head-coaching positions.
After being bypassed for both jobs, O’Shea decided to return to Toronto and become a part of new head coach Scott Milanovich’s staff.
“I am thrilled that Mike O’Shea has chosen to stay with the Toronto Argonauts,” Milanovich said in a statement. “He is fiercely competitive and his extensive knowledge of the game will be an invaluable addition to our staff.
“I am confident that we share a similar approach to preparing players in a disciplined but aggressive manner that our players will respond to.”
O’Shea spent 16 seasons in the CFL with both Hamilton and Toronto. He became the Argos’ special-teams co-ordinator in 2010 under then head coach Jim Barker.
Barker stepped down as coach following the 2011 season to concentrate full-time on being the club’s GM. He hired Milanovich, a former Montreal Alouettes offensive coordinator, as his replacement on the sidelines.
“I would like to thank Scott and Jim (Barker) for allowing me to take some time in making my decision,” O’Shea said. “I look forward to getting back to work with the most dedicated special teams players in the league.
“I’m excited to continue the learning process that is pro football under Scott’s leadership.”
O’Shea won three Grey Cups as a player with Toronto and finished his career as the second-leading tackler in CFL history with 1,151.
