MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Head coach Rich Stubler is looking to a familiar face to help boost the Toronto Argonauts defence.

The Argos announced Wednesday that Mike Walker, a former standout CFL defensive lineman, has joined the squad as a defensive consultant.

“We’re thrilled to have Mike Walker in Toronto,” Stubler said in a statement. “He played for me in the 1980s in Hamilton alongside Grover Covington and helped Grover become the CFL’s all-time sack leader.

“Mike’s been with Washington State the past decade and brings a great deal of expertise on the defensive line. We’re excited to utilize his knowledge to help us in our quest for a Grey Cup.”

Last season, Toronto’s defence was the CFL’s best. But this season the unit has been plagued by inconsistency as the Argos head to the midway point of the regular season with a less-than-stellar 3-5 record.

Walker will spend most of his time working with the Argos’ defensive line.

Walker played for Hamilton from 1982-89 and was a four-time East Division all-star and three-time CFL all-star during that time. He helped Hamilton appear in four Grey Cup games, winning in 1986. He finished his career by playing two seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos, appearing in the ‘90 Grey Cup.

Walker has spent the last 11 years as the defensive line coach at Washington State, his alma mater.

Walker and his wife, Kristen - a track coach at Washington State - have three children, all of whom are named after NFL superstars.

Their son, Marcus, is named after former running back Marcus Allen and is a middle linebacker at Eastern Washington. They also have a daughter, Taylor (after NFL great Lawrence Taylor), who will be a freshman at Eastern Washington this fall and participate in track and field; and an eight-year-old daughter, Payton, who is named after former star running back Walter Payton.