TORONTO -- Head coach Scott Milanovich can't wait for the Toronto Argonauts to enjoy home-field advantage at BMO Field.

That was a rarity last season as Toronto lost four home dates at Rogers Centre due to the Pan-Am Games and baseball playoffs. Not only can the Argos look forward to nine firm home games in 2016 but also a return to the Canadian National Exhibition grounds at a refurbished BMO Field.

When Toronto kicks off the regular season June 23 hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it will cap a wild, sometimes bizarre ride for the club. In 2014, the Argos were forced to practise at various fields before finally securing a permanent facility at Downsview Park.

"Having a home-field advantage will be something our players don't know (much about)," Milanovich said Wednesday during a conference call. "I'm really proud of what we've accomplished the last couple of years going through the things we've gone through.

"I know our coaching staff, players, front office and ops people are thrilled about the transition we're making going to BMO Field. I kind of feel like we've weathered the storm and now we're going to see the fruits of what we've been through."

For many, Toronto's move to BMO Field signifies a return to the franchise's heyday when it played outdoors at Exhibition Stadium. The Argos spent 30 seasons there before relocating to Rogers Centre in '89.

The season opener against Hamilton will also be a different experience for the Argos, who because of the Pan-Am Games in Toronto were forced to start the 2015 campaign with a 26-11 "home" win over Edmonton at Fort McMurray, Alta.

After being the first opponent at both Ottawa's TD Place and Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field in 2014, Milanovich is anxious for his team to experience the thrill of opening its own facility.

"We were in Hamilton and Ottawa when they opened their stadiums so we got a first-hand feel of the electricity and excitement that builds," he said. "That's what I am anticipating when we open against Hamilton.

"We can't wait, honestly. It's something we've been waiting for for a long time and our players and organization deserve this."

Milanovich will also have new faces on his coaching staff this year, most notably veteran defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler. The 66-year-old Colorado native has spent 28 seasons as a CFL coach and won five Grey Cups.

This marks Stubler third stint with Toronto (1990, 2003-08) following two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. He becomes the Argos' third defensive co-ordinator in as many years but Milanovich envisions a scenario similar to 2012, when as a first-time CFL head coach he entrusted the club's defence to veteran co-ordinator Chris Jones, now the Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach/GM.

Toronto captured the 100th Grey Cup that season.

"It seems wherever (Stubler) goes his defences seem to end up in the top two or three in the league," Milanovich said. "I trust Rich implicitly.

"It should free me up to be more of an offensive coach, which is primarily the reason why I was hired four years ago. I'm looking forward to that. It's a best-case scenario when you can just hire quality people who can do the job and I can do what I'm best at."

Veteran coach Kit Lathrop is reunited with Stubler as Toronto's defensive line coach. The two worked together previously with B.C. and Calgary.

D.J. Wingate (linebackers) and Jordan Younger (defensive backs) complete the defensive staff. Wingate joined the Argos last season as an assistant defensive backs coach while Younger, a former Toronto defensive back, begins his second season in his present position.

Marcus Brady returns for a fourth season as offensive co-ordinator while Mike Preston replaces the departed Jonathan Himebauch (Nevada) as offensive line coach after assisting Himebauch last year and also serving as an assistant special-teams coach. Anthony Ierullo returns as running back coach.

Milanovich said he'll soon be hiring a receivers coach.

Kelly Jeffrey begins his first season as Toronto special-teams co-ordinator after seven years as the head coach at Mount Allison. He was three times the AUS top coach and earned the CIS honour in 2014.

Assistant special-teams coach Bradley Daye makes his pro coaching debut with Toronto. He served as defensive backs coach and assistant special-teams coach for three years under Jeffrey at Mount Allison.