CFL.ca Staff

Toronto -- The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced today that Bart Andrus has been dismissed from his position as Head Coach.  Andrus was named the club’s 40th Head Coach on January 16, 2009 and led the team to a 3-15 record during the 2009 season.

Commented Argonauts President and CEO Bob Nicholson, “We would like to thank Bart for his efforts during a challenging season.  Bart came to us with an impressive resume and we wish him all the best in the future.  Our search for a new Head Coach has begun and we look forward to building a winning team on the field.”

Bob Nicholson will be available to the media later today to answer any questions on this decision.

During the search and interview process for the vacant Head Coach’s position, the Toronto Argonauts Football Club will not entertain media inquiries concerning this matter. Updates will be provided in a timely manner.

Prior to joining the Argonauts, Bart Andrus was Offensive Assistant Coach of the Tennessee Titans (NFL). The 2008-09 Titans won the most games (13) in the NFL regular season and held the AFC's #1 playoff seed, before losing to Baltimore in the division round of the playoffs. Andrus previously coached for the Titans for three seasons from 1997-99.

Andrus served as the head coach of the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europa from 2001-2007, guiding the club to a pair of World Bowl appearances (2005, 2006). In 2005, he was named NFL Europa Coach of the Year after posting a 6-4 mark and leading his team to a victory in World Bowl XIII against the Berlin Thunder. Prior to joining the Admirals, Andrus served as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach of the Rhein Fire in 2000 where he led the top ranking offence in the league and helped lead former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel to a World Bowl victory over the Scottish Claymores.

Andrus originally joined Jeff Fisher’s Titans coaching staff as an offensive assistant/quality control coach in 1997. After two seasons in that position, he was named the quarterbacks coach prior to the 1999 campaign. That season, Andrus worked with veteran quarterback Steve McNair and helped guide the Titans to a 13-3 regular season record and a trip to Super Bowl XXXIV.

Prior to joining the Titans/Oilers, Andrus spent one season as the head coach at Rocky Mountain College and earned 1996 NAIA Coach of the Year honours. He was rewarded for taking over a program that had not won a game in four years and guiding them to a 6-4 mark. He orchestrated an offensive unit that ranked first nationally, averaging 505 yards/game and 39.6 points/game.

Before taking over the Rocky Mountain program, Andrus served as the offensive coordinator at Southern Utah University (1993-95) and Montana State University (1990-91) as passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Humboldt State (1986-89).

Andrus began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Brigham Young University during the team’s national championship season in 1984, after spending three years (1981-83) as head coach at St. Patrick High School in Vallejo, CA.

Born on March 30, 1958, the Los Angeles, CA native graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Health and Physical Education, and played quarterback from 1978-81. Andrus went on to earn a masters degree in Physical Education from BYU in 1985.