One of the first tasks on our list (well actually my list per the owners of the Guards) was to try and find a coach for our new enterprise. Well we don’t use a rolodex anymore … so I pulled out my phone and my notebooks to try and find a match for the Guards.
So, with back and forth conversations with my friends in Switzerland – JC and Matt – I began to formulate a list. But, then I find out that our majority owner had already interviewed Rip Scherer and was thinking about talking to Hal Mumme via zoom.
I don’t know either of them, but I know they are well respected. So, I am fine with that – but they are also in the category of “professional job seekers.” Always looking for the next job. Nothing wrong with that…they both have impressive resumes and would be great for the job.
But, I now begin the see how some of this is going to work. So, what do they need me for?
They want my help … but well maybe not so much. No problem.
I told Matt that I was going to put any work l was doing on finding a coach on hold until Mukka (majority owner) talked with the people who interested him. I want to help as I said I would – but, not going to waste my time or bother candidates that I knew if management was going off on their own.
After about a week of spinning their wheels with guys asking for the moon and the same salary for that celestial body (those are college thoughts!) and not realizing what football in Europe was like. I have the ball shot back into my court.
One of my first calls is to June Jones who is one of the most innovative offensive coaches … been a successful head coach in the NFL and Division I football. He is a fantastic person and a great leader. I love the man because he is always honest and is extremely thoughtful.
Although he finds it intriguing … not for him.
Jim Herrmann one of the finest defensive coordinators that the University of Michigan ever saw found it “intriguing, but not interested right now.” He wanted to stay in the XFL (or USFL) as a coordinator with a shot at getting back into the NFL.
I get it … Jim belongs in the big leagues. He’s the real deal as a coach.
Later, I come to realize that the phrase … “intriguing, but not interested right now.” Well, it means to move on.
Well, I have some other friends who were bigtime NFL and college coaches as coordinators on defense. I reach out to my friends Martin Bayless and Ray Horton.
Both great guys and awesome coaches with excellent resumes. I hear … “intriguing, but not interested right now” from Ray.
Don’t blame him .. he lives in Phoenix and plays golf everyday – owns a plane and flies it all over the west chasing around after that little white ball.
Ironically when the head coach of the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL quit in the early part of the training camp … Ray became the new boss – then they win the championship! The guy is a fantastic leader and a truly stand up guy. He brooks no bullshit from idiots.
Now, Martin was different – he had a genuine interest. We spent time on the phone and I tried to explain the situation with the European League of Football and the Guards in particular. The longer we talked the more I thought we might have someone on the line!
In the mean time I had secured an offensive line coach (Bob Palcic), and a defensive line coach (Bert Hill) both friends who I had worked with over the years.
Since I am writing this after the fact (I am traveling back in time with the “Wayback” machine I can say that neither of them coached a down with the Guards … for various reasons they had to withdraw.
Now contrary to popular belief … I am not the dumbest man in the world. I continue to mine my football black book and reach out to Jim Zorn.
Now “JZ” is one of my favorite guys. A great NFL quarterback and later a solid coach including a stint with the Washington Redskins (well that was what the were known as then) as the head coach.
He had also been a head coach in Seattle with either the USFL or XFL or one of those other leagues. Now he thought coaching in Europe was … “intriguing, but not interested right now.” Whoops – he said he would love to interview with our group.
So, now we have lined up two viable candidates to spend a zoom meeting with. Things were looking up for the Helvetic Guards. I really felt we might be able to land one of them.
We spent some time with each of them on a zoom call and they were both great.
More importantly Mukka (who would have the final call on hiring the coach) was impressed with both of them. He now would have to make a call.
Both Jim and Martin were impressed with the opportunity … but “not so fast Kemosabe!”
Jim has too many reservations and he said the team won’t pay enough … he wants to get back into the NFL or the USFL or XFL at the least. So he is out.
Martin talks with our group again and he just decided to step back and says he wants to get another shot at the NFL like the other guys. I get it, and like Jim Zorn and Jim Herrmann he deserves it.
But, he recommends an offensive coach … Norm Chow.
So, here comes Norm!