The Coaches Blog: Welcome, Goodbye, And So Long.

Over the last two days we have had four head coaches from all of pro sports come and go (literally.) So let's get to it.


Chuck Pagano

Former defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, has decided he won't be back. Around 3:00 eastern time it was made official that Chuck Pagano will be the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Pagano said it was a difficult decision to leave Baltimore, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity.

In his only stint as a defensive coordinator. Pagano went 12-4, and finished just shy of a Super Bowl birth (..not getting into that lol.)

 

After just one year as Baltimore DC, one interview (was held Wednesday afternoon), and one day since his interview. My question is. Are the Colts rushing?

I understand why Pagano took the job, but just after one day, and the Colts have already made a decision. The Buccaneers fired their coach back on January 2nd , and their vacancy still hasn't been filled. With the Colts most likely drafting Andrew Luck, players like Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis, Jeff Saturday, Pierre Garcon could all potentially be gone, and all these Peyton Manning rumors circling "Will he be back in a Colts uni" "Will he retire" etc. etc. I think Indianapolis kind of rushed everything. They were waiting for just one person to come in and "wow" them, and that was going to be their guy. Period.

Before Indianapolis even interviewed Pagano. Indianapolis list of HC candidates included Jim Tressel (who was hired as a replay consultant back in September), 49ers special teams coach Brad Seely, and Titans DC Jerry Gray. Most people figured none of them were much of a threat to secure the Colts head coaching vacancy, and I thought the same about Pagano. Proved me wrong. I think Irsay just wanted a guy in there A.S.A.P.

The firing of Jim Caldwell now makes a little more sense to me. Jim Irsay, and new general manager Ryan Grigson are looking for the right guy to manage this team WITHOUT Peyton Manning.

Flip Saunders

After a six point loss to the Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo-less Celtics on Sunday. Followed by a 30 point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and a  2-15 start overall. General manager Ted Leonsis canned Flip Saunders.

Flip is a great coach, but this move had to be done. The Wizards and Flip just weren't clicking. Guys were dunking off backboards, Flip was making substitutions with 1.4 seconds left in the half, and guys just being oblivious to what Flip had to say during timeouts. Those are just some examples.

Flip Saunders went 51-130 in two years as Wizards head coach, and to his defense wasn't used to coaching a younger team, who's average experience just edged 3.5 years. Flip is a great coach, and when put in the right spot, can easily have success.

Bottom line: The Wizards needed a new voice in their lockeroom. Assistant Randy Wittman has been named interim head coach. Wittman will get his first test tonight, at home against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Dennis Allen

I've already expressed my frustration with the Raiders head coaching vacancy in my article Out Of Action-Jackson, However that's another story.

The Raiders hired Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen on Tuesday. Marking the first time since 1969 (John Madden) that the Raiders have hired a defensive minded head coach.

This is a typical Raiders move, hiring low key coaches and hoping to make a big splash in years to come. With the Broncos last season, Dennis lead the 24th ranked defense all the way to the divisional round in the playoffs. Only to lose to the New England Patriots by 35.

As far as this goes, I don't know if the Raiders could of done better in their search. Matter of fact the best thing they could have done would've been to keep Hue Jackson.

I see GM Reggie McKenzie as someone with a short fuse, and the way I see it if Dennis Allen isn't at least 12 games over .500 by the end of his second year. Allen will be out, and the Raiders will be in search of their 9th coach in 12 years.

Joe Paterno

409-136 career record, 24-12 in bowl games, including 2 national championship victory's, and 62 years of Penn State football. Joe Pa was Penn State, and for him to go out like this is just a nightmare.

Joe Paterno died Sunday morning losing his battle with lung cancer. He had a private service for him this afternoon, and a public service honoring the legend will begin at 2pm tomorrow afternoon.

Penn State board of trustees, and exspecially Jerry Sandusky should all be ashamed of them selves right now. Paterno was fired back in November, unexpectedly, after what Penn State called "not doing enough." Not doing enough in reporting the sexual abuse that was going on by Jerry Sandusky.

The Thing about that is Mike McQueary is the one who actually saw the abuse happen, and he reported it to Joe Paterno. In which Paterno then went to his supervisor, from there nothing was done, and there was never any follow up. McQueary is still an assistant coach at Penn State while Joe Pa is laying in a casket.

There is no doubt in my mind that Paterno's sudden firing back in November. Was a major reason for Paterno's death. Rest in piece Joe Pa, you will always be in our hearts.


In Other News...

Roger Goodell signs an extension, which will make him NFL commissioner through 2019.

Kevin Love reaches a 4 year over 60 million dollar deal. With the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Nuggets and forward Danilo Gallinari have agreed on a four year extension worth 42 million dollars.

The worlds #2 and #3 Roger Federer and Rafeal Nadal will square off tomorrow for the 27th time in the Australian open semifinal.