Okay, Norv Turner’s time as the Chargers head coach is almost over, time to start looking for a new head coach. I’m very much in favor of hiring a defensive minded or offensive line coach. I feel they’re the best motivating coaches and usually have the best rapport with players. The Chargers had their best season when the offensive coordinator call the offensive, the defensive coordinator called the defense, and the head coach managed the TEAM.
Here are my nominees:
Bill Cowher (former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach) – This will never happen as long as AJ Smith is still the Charger’s GM. Cowher is a tough, proven head coach with years of successful seasons and teams under his belt. Bottom line, the guy knows how to build successful teams and get to the Super Bowl!
Les Miles (LSU head coach) – Just watch Les Miles lead the LSU Tigers onto the field before a game. I can’t see Norv getting that fired up about anything. Oh, and that LSU defense? Outstanding!
Chip Kelly (Univ. of Oregon head coach) – If you’re going to go offensive with your head coach, you can’t do any better than this guy. He’s disciplined and innovated. On paper, this guy is a homerun. He’s a former defensive coordinator but also regarded as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football today.
Jay Gruden (Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator) – In just one season has taken the disastrous Bengals offense and turned it into a contending force, all with an unproven ROOKIE quarterback too. If he can turn Andy Dalton into a professional quarterback in less that one season, imagine what he can do with a veteran like Philip Rivers.
Mike Zimmer (Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator) – This guys is WAY over due for a head coaching job.
Brady Hoke (Univ. of Michigan head coach) – I love this guy! After seeing what he’s done with SDSU and Michigan, I’m convinced he’s a guy who can turn around the Charger’s organization. Most importantly, in both jobs he has mostly inherited the players from the previous administrations and turned them into the players they never had the chance to be under the old reign. If AJ Smith is still drafting boys come next season, Brady Hoke will make soldiers out of them.
Chuck Pagano (Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator) – Sure, he inherited all those gifted Raven’s players, but he coached under Greg Mattison and knows how to implement that aggressive Ravens style the Chargers players and organization so desperately need. He’s also had very success seasons as secondary and defensive backs coach for the Browns and Raiders (I know, I couldn’t believe that too).
Mike Pettine (NY Jets defensive coordinator) – Rex Ryan gets the headlines, but it’s Pettine doing all the work.
Tom Clements (Green Bay Packers quarterback coach) – Seeing how he helped turn Aaron Rodgers into an MVP gets me so excited to see what he could do with our captain.
