The Toronto Argonauts have interviewed special teams coordinator Mickey Donovan for their vacant head coach position, per sources.
The 44-year-old has been with the Argonauts since 2022, helping the team win two Grey Cups in four seasons. Under his tutelage, returners Javon Leake (2023) and Janarion Grant (2024) were both named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, while kicker Lirim Hajrullahu was the runner-up in 2025 after setting an all-time CFL record with 12 field goals made outside of 50 yards.
Donovan played three seasons with the Concordia Stingers (2002-04) and was a two-time first-team All-Canadian at linebacker. He also won the Presidents’ Trophy in his final collegiate season as the top defensive player in all of U Sports football.
The native of Laconia, N.H. turned to coaching after suffering a career-ending knee injury and had stints at New Hampshire, Western, and McGill before becoming the head coach at Concordia in 2014. He held the role for four seasons before becoming the special teams coordinator with the Montreal Alouettes in 2018, a job he held through 2021.
According to sources, as many as a half-dozen people have been interviewed for Toronto’s head coach job, including several other members of staff. On Friday, 3DownNation confirmed reports that quarterbacks coach Mike Miller and receivers coach Pete Costanza had interviewed.
The job became available after Ryan Dinwiddie, the team’s two-time Grey Cup-winning head coach, left for the Ottawa Redblacks in order to become head coach and general manager. Toronto unsuccessfully tried to woo Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea, and has also reportedly targeted former Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Kent Austin.
The Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final in 2024. Nick Arbuckle threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s Most Outstanding Player.
Toronto ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The team’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, the leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and the leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. The Argos ranked ninth in attendance with 15,109 average fans at BMO Field, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
