MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Don Matthews is returning to the Toronto Argonauts for a third time, deciding he's ready to coach again after overcoming the anxiety issues that forced him to leave the Montreal Alouettes.
The Argos announced the veteran coach's hiring Tuesday, replacing Rich Stubler after a 4-6 start to the season.
"Rich Stubler is a good football coach," Matthews told a news conference. "The reason I'm here is, for whatever reason, the players aren't playing up to their potential."
Matthews, 69, is the CFL leader in regular-season wins (231) and tied for the most Grey Cup wins (five). He won five more Grey Cup rings as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Eskimos (1978-'82).
He was head coach of the Alouettes in 2006 when he began experiencing anxiety problems that led to other health issues.
Medication was unable to help, prompting him to resign.
"At the end I could not put myself on the field anymore, I couldn't go on the field," said Matthews. "That was the end of it. ...
"When I retired at Montreal, I felt that was going to be the end of my career as a football coach. I moved to the States, took up residence in Oregon, I'm with my children and grandchildren and I very much thought it was over."
A change in medication helped him better control his anxiety issues. Doctors told him to use the new medicine for five weeks and if successful, he would need a dose a day for the rest of his life.
"At the end of five weeks the anxiety was gone," said Matthews. "But the thing is, I was happy with my career, I really felt I had done enough."
Then the Argos came calling with their team floundering, fortunate to be second in the East due to the weakness of their division.
With ties to many on the team, including chief executive officer Michael (Pinball) Clemons, he decided to come back.
"I've got some of the best friends of my life in Toronto," said Matthews.
The move comes one day after 2-8 Hamilton fired Charlie Taaffe.
Rumours about Stubler's future have circulated for weeks, with one recent theory suggesting he would be replaced Clemons, a former coach himself.
Matthews coached Toronto in 1990 and from 1996 to 1998.
He has also coached the B.C. Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Baltimore Stallions, Edmonton Eskimos and Alouettes.
"The ship was heading in the wrong direction and we felt we had to bring in a new captain to put us in the best position to win each week, prepare us for the playoffs and build toward the Grey Cup," said Argos GM Adam Rita. "We wanted to bring Toronto fans the best and we believe the best is Don Matthews."
