With LA Question Resolved, Chargers Still Face Coaching Vacancy
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — With the Chargers' announcement Thursday that the team is moving to Los Angeles, they became the latest local team looking for a head coach.
The Chargers two weeks ago fired Mike McCoy after a 5-11 season -- the Chargers' second straight last-place finish in the AFC West and a third straight season out of the playoffs.
"Hiring a head coach will be the biggest decision this franchise will make," general manager Tom Telesco said earlier this month.
The Rams were also without a head coach at the time of the Chargers' announcement Thursday morning, but within hours the Rams had announced the hiring of former Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay.
So, who is on the Chargers' shortlist? The team released a list of candidates Wednesday.
The list includes Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Bills interim head coach Anthony Lynn, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub, Patriots defensive coordinator Mike Patricia, and Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith.
The Rams also expressed interest in Lynn and Patricia.
Now, as the Chargers organization manages a move to Los Angeles, the front office will need to swiftly turn its focus towards the coaching search. Already, four teams -- the Jaguars, Bills, Broncos and Rams -- have hired head coaches in 2017, thinning the pool of desirable applicants. (The 49ers and Chargers are the only remaining NFL teams looking for coaches).
Problem is, the Spanos family that owns the Chargers has more misses than hits in hiring coaches. Among the the misses are Kevin Gilbride, Norv Turner and McCoy, who was 27-37 in his four years coaching the team.
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