Don Matthews quits as Argos' head coach

TORONTO - Don Matthews stepped down as head coach of the Toronto Argonauts on Friday and said his days on the sidelines are over.

The winningest coach in CFL history made the decision after failing to turn around a team that was 4-6 when he took over from the fired Rich Stubler.

The Argos were 0-8 under his watch and his inability to effect change with the players prompted him to remove himself from consideration for the role in 2009.

The Argos are out of the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

"Our owners are very passionate people and I wish I could have given them more because they live and breathe football," said Matthews.

He now plans on returning to Oregon and resuming his retirement.

"I think my time has come," he said.

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 coached Toronto in 1990 and from 1996 to 1998.

Matthews had been out of football since 2006 when anxiety issues forced him to step down as head of the Montreal Alouettes.

In the ensuing years, he found a medication that helped control his anxiety and felt ready to resume coaching when the Argos came calling in September.

But his inability to get players to respond forced him to make his decision.