Mike (Pinball) Clemons will step down as Toronto Argonauts head coach at the end of the season, with defensive architect Rich Stubler taking over, according to a report.

The Globe and Mail, citing anonymous CFL sources, reported Wednesday that Clemons would step down five years into his second term as Argos coach.

Michael Clemons, left, is stepping down five years into his second term as Argos coach, according to a report.
(Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

 "It seems like about this time every year the question is asked, 'Will I coach again?'" he said. "I always wait until the end of the year and I don't like doing contracts in the middle of contracts. It hasn't changed.

"At the end of the year, I have to talk to my wife first. We'll sit down and we'll talk about it and we'll see the direction things are going."

Toronto won the Grey Cup in 2004 under Clemons, who has been nominated four times as a finalist for CFL coach of the year.

The Grey Cup will be played in Toronto on Nov. 25.

Toronto rebounded from a 2-6 start and injuries at the quarterback position this season to win the CFL East Division.

The Argonauts will face the winner of Sunday's game between Montreal and Winnipeg next week.

Clemons spent 12 years with the Argos, retiring to take the head coach position in 2000. He left the sidelines after just over a year to take over as team president, but was back coaching in 2002.

The newspaper also reported that former Ottawa Renegades president Brad Watters is the leading candidate to replace outgoing team president Keith Pelley. Clemons is apparently not a candidate to replace Pelley.