Argos hire defensive coach Jones away from Calgary

John Hufnagel has lost his right-hand man and he's not happy about it.   

The Calgary head coach and GM was taken aback by news that Chris Jones was leaving his role as defensive co-ordinator and assistant director of player personnel and football operations to join the Argonauts.   

Hufnagel said he would have appreciated a call from Toronto seeking permission to talk to Jones. He also said he received no warning from Jones that he was considering leaving prior to Tuesday.   

"I'm not pleased the way it went down. That's all I will comment on," Hufnagel said Wednesday at McMahon Stadium.   

"I'm very surprised. I had no forewarning of it," Hufnagel added. "Did Toronto contact me? If they had contacted me I wouldn't be so surprised."   

Though there was no such announcement from Toronto on Wednesday, it's believed Jones will serve as defensive co-ordinator and assistant head coach there.   

Instead, the Argonauts offered their side of the story via a short statement later Wednesday:    

"The Toronto Argonauts did not request permission from the Calgary Stampeders to talk to Chris Jones," the statement read. "Chris Jones was under contract to the Stampeders.    A

s such, the Argonauts did not believe him to be available for discussion. He does not have a contract with the Toronto Argonauts. "The Toronto Argonauts have no further comment on this situation."   

A CFL spokesman said the league had been "made aware of the situation" and was looking into it.   

Jones and Toronto head coach and GM Jim Barker go back. Jones joined the Stamps in 2008 when he was hired away from Montreal by then Calgary GM Barker.   

Jones is expected to also add the role of assistant head coach to his duties in Toronto.   

Barker is expected to focus on his GM duties, with Montreal offensive co-ordinator Scott Milanovich reportedly taking over as Toronto coach.   

Jones and Barker were on the Alouettes coaching staff together in 2002. And Jones and Milanovich were in Montreal together in 2007.   

In losing Jones, Hufnagel will also have to replace a respected talent scout as well as a defensive co-ordinator. Jones ran the Stampeders' free agent camps each the winter. Running backs coach Mike Gibson will now do that.   

"It will be a big loss. Chris is a very talented coach," said defensive tackle Devon Claybrooks. "The cupboard's not bare, though. We have good coaches remaining here and a good football team. Coach Huff will do a great job of finding a replacement."   

Hufnagel has already talked to Stampeders linebacker coach Dave Walkowsky about replacing Jones. Walkowsky just completed his first season with the Stampeders after serving as head coach for three seasons at Tiffin University in Ohio. Walkowsky also has 20 years experience as an assistant coach at the U.S. college level.   

Hufnagel said he will also look outside his own staff and conduct interviews over the next four weeks, but said he will not pursue a current CFL defensive co-ordinator.   

"I don't think I will try to get someone else's defensive co-ordinator unless that person contacted me and I received permission to talk to them," Hufnagel said.   

Also Wednesday, the Argonauts announced that right tackle Chris Van Zeyl has agreed to a contract extension through the 2014 season.