Hot NFL Coaches

Upwardly Mobile...The next wave of NFL head coaches
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The path to the top of the NFL coaching ranks is somewhat well-defined: serve an apprenticeship as a position coach; become a coordinator for a successful playoff or Super Bowl team; then teams seeking to reverse their woebegone fortunes come calling like school boys looking for a prom date. Although 2000 was an aberration with two new head coaches not serving as coordinators in 1999, Al Groh was the LB coach for the Jets before his promotion, and Dave Wannstedt was the assistant head coach of the Dolphins prior to his elevation to the top spot. So it should come as no great surprise that 11 of the 13 NFL assistants making this year's list of "hot" coaching candidates currently serve as an OC or DC (the other two serve in supervisory roles as an assistant head coach and the other a passing game coordinator).

The one factor not mentioned in the above equation is the boost it gives an aspiring head coach's career to have a head coach who will let him receive the glory and accolades for team success. For example, Dick Vermeil made no bones about the fact that the Rams' 1999 offensive success was due to OC Mike Martz's guidance, and New England's new head man, Bill Belichick, was given tremendous responsibility and credit with the Jets (not to mention the HC job after Bill Parcells stepped down).

Yet, media and fans now more than ever scrutinize assistant coaches and can recite the names of virtually every coordinator and many position coaches on their local team. The days of obscurity for NFL assistants are going, going, gone. So, NFL assistants now share the stage of opportunity, fame and fortune with equal partners criticism, ridicule and scorn.

Given this newfound definition and job description, the following is our look at a baker's dozen of the best bets to be roaming a sideline in the near future. (In no particular order)

Gary Crowton, OC, Chicago
In 1999, no offense in the league was more talked about than the Bears' innovative wide-open style of attack orchestrated by OC Gary Crowton. One of the first things new Bear head coach Dick Jauron did was to find someone to come in and fix the Bears' offense. He looked around the league and decided the man he needed was in Ruston, Louisiana. Crowton left the job as head coach at Louisiana Tech to give the NFL a try; and so far Jauron is looking like a genius. At La. Tech, Crowton set the NCAA on fire with his innovative, high-octane offense (in 1998 for example, his troops passed for 590 yards vs. Nebraska, and led the nation with 432.1 passing yards per game, were second in total offense 539.9 yards per game, and fourth in scoring 41.1 points per game) and his NFL debut was prolific as well. If the Bears are this season's breakthrough team, the mild-mannered Crowton will be a HC.

Gary Kubiak, OC, Denver
Only an injury riddled 1999 season kept this star-in-the-making in Denver for an encore campaign. Coming off of back-to-back Super Bowl wins, most thought Kubiak could write his own ticket, and if the NFL didn't have the no-tampering rule for assistants on teams still in the playoffs, Kubiak would more than likely already be a head coach. He has a blue-chip resume: nine years as a player in the NFL (John Elway's back up); Texas A&M (his alma mater) as RB coach (he turned down Bill Walsh's offer to go to Stanford) and where he tutored Greg Hill and Leeland McElroy during a two-season 22-3 run by the Aggies; 1994 QB coach with the 49ers—winning the Super Bowl with Steve Young as his pupil; and five years with Mike Shanahan at Denver. The bottom-line with Kubiak is he will be a HC, maybe for the new Houston franchise in his home state.

Dave McGinnis, DC, Arizona
The 1999 season that showed so much promise for the Cardinals turned to mediocrity due to injuries and ineffective offensive play. Yet DC Dave McGinnis, a real "player's coach" and hero of assistants everywhere, because he told the Chicago Bears to take their job and "shove it," is a hot commodity among league insiders. He has strong credentials with 14 years in the NFL (10 with Chicago and four in Arizona) and 13 in college (TCU, Missouri, Indiana State, Kansas State), and is widely respected for his no-nonsense attitude with his players. If Arizona get its ship headed in the playoff waters again and the defense plays well, McGinnis will get another shot to run a team next year.

Vic Fangio, DC, Indianapolis
In his first year with the Colts, the team went from 3-13 to 13-3, and DC Vic Fangio was a big part of the success. Sure most of the credit went to the offense, but the defense was also solid (improving from 29th in the league to 15th, a decrease of over 53 yards per game rushing, from 160.4 to 107.2, and allowed 16 fewer TDs in 1999 from 52 to 36), and will be better in 2000. Fangio is in his 12th year with HC Jim Mora and had an ultra-succesful run as the DC for the Carolina Panthers under Dom Capers from 1995-98. He has two strong mentors, and in the NFL, coaching lineage is exceptionally important. As is always the case, if the Colts reach the Super Bowl, Fangio will be elevated to the top of pile of would-be head coaches.

Gregg Williams, DC, Tennessee
In NFL coaching circles, winning championships gets you noticed faster than walking down a crowded mall naked. Throw into the equation working for a master defensive coach as your HC and this creates a game plan for serious upward mobility for a DC. This describes Tennessee DC Gregg Williams. The Titans have excelled under Williams (finishing 1999 second in the conference in takeaways and 10th in the league in rushing defense) and have the stable of players in place to become a regular contestant in the post-season beauty contest. This will get Williams noticed and Fishers' reputation will only grow which will exponentially help Williams' ascent to the top of Mt. NFL.

Dom Capers, DC, Jacksonville
Not one person knowledgeable in the inner workings of the NFL doubts the fact Dom Capers will get another shot to run his own program. Actually just a few would question his on field coaching in his prior stint as the head coach of the expansion Carolina Panthers. His demise was brought about by management's win-now philosophy in building the squad, and his talent evaluation process when he assumed control after Bill Polian departed. Evidence of his skills can be found in the fact he was unemployed about 15 seconds before offers came pouring in. In 1999, he led the Jags to one of the best single-season turnarounds in history, improving from 25th in the league in total defense to fourth and allowing the fewest points per game in the NFL 13.7 (also three Jaguars made the Pro Bowl marking the first time in team history a defensive player has made the trip to Hawaii). An acknowledged master, it is only a matter of time.

Marvin Lewis, DC, Baltimore
As the only member of the previous regime retained by new coach Brian Billick, Marvin Lewis proved his worth and considerable ability in leading the young Ravens' defense to the number two spot in the league in yards allowed per game (263.9), and the team finished in the top two in five defensive categories, and did not allow a 100-yad rusher during the entire season. The soon to be 42-year old has an excellent background and is more than well respected by his players (many of whom lobbied Billick to keep him). Lewis will have the advantage of being associated with one of the real up-and-coming teams in the 2000 season and working with the likes of Bill Cowher, Ted Marchibroda, and Billick will only enhance his resume.

Mike Heimerdinger, OC, Tennessee
After making a Super Bowl appearance last year, former OC Les Steckle left to join the Buccaneers. Tennessee HC Jeff Fisher could have had his choice of coaches eager to fill the open OC spot as the Titans are loaded with young talent and poised to be strong for years to come. Fisher looked to Denver and snatched former Bronco WR coach Mike Heimerdinger as the man to replace Steckle. Heimerdinger has been with Shanahan for years and is well schooled in the detail-oriented system that has been so successful in Denver. He now gets to escape the considerable shadow of Shanahan and run his own show. The chance to now learn from Fisher and his proven winning methodology will help Heimerdinger move his career forward, as will the abundant talent on the Titans' offense. If Tennessee makes a couple of deep runs into the playoffs, this OC will be in a position of serious leverage.

Gil Haskill, OC, Seattle
Just being associated with Seattle HC Mike Holmgren is enough to jump-start a career. So new OC Gil Haskell's good fortune to move to Seattle to take over for new Packer HC Mike Sherman is indeed a stroke of good fortune. Haskill a 17-year NFL veteran, who served as WR & RB coach with Holmgren in Green Bay from 1992-97, was the OC with Carolina last season and directed QB Steve Beuerlein to the Pro Bowl and his finest season ever. Possibly best remembered for the severe head injury he suffered in a Thanksgiving day game in Dallas when he was run over on the sideline, if the Seahawks continue to improve under Holmgren, Haskill may get better known for getting his own organization to lead (just ask Mariucci, Rhodes, etc.).

Terry Robiskie, Passing Game Coord., Washington
If you want to get a ticket on the fast train to head coaching city, you need two prerequisites: winning and media attention. The Redskins PGC Terry Robiskie will get plenty of both in 2000. The Skins are under the microscope due to new owner Daniel Snyder's spending spree and outgoing personality, and Washington is fully expected to make a serious run at the Super Bowl. While normally head coaches come from either OCs or DCs, since HC Norv Turner is his own OC, Robiskie as PGC is the closest thing to an OC on the staff. Turner is widely reputed to be among the best in the business at playcalling and the overall management of the passing game (ask Troy Aikman about his credentials), and Robiskie has been with him from the beginning. His investment with Turner will pay off huge if the Redskins reach their potential. Owners love offense because it fills seats, and with the background he has in moving the ball, all Robiskie needs is wins to get him a job.

Herman Edwards, AHC/DB, Tampa Bay
No single person is more respected in the entire NFL than Tampa Bay HC Tony Dungy, and his number one understudy is AHC/DB Herman Edwards. The strength of the Bucs is their defense and working with top-flight DC Monte Kiffin, Edwards is more than trained in how to run a football team (his secondary has finished in the top 10 in the league in each of his four years in Tampa). After a stellar playing career, he has spent 11 years in the NFL in several capacities, from pro scout, personnel to DB coach working with Kansas City, meaning he has a complete understanding of how an organization works as one cohesive unit. He is generally acknowledged as a great teacher and communicator and has the same quiet, confident demeanor as his boss, Dungy. The formula has worked for the Bucs and other GMs looking to repair a downtrodden franchise may soon come after the man who closely resembles the savior of Tampa Bay.

Sylvester Croom, OC, Detroit
Lose all-time great Barry Sanders... play an inexperienced young QB... suffer through serious injuries... not exactly the makings for a great year, But, these obstacles were all overcome in 1999, by talented and unheralded, Detroit OC Sylvester Croom. He is in his fourth year as OC of the Lions after serving as RB coach with three other NFL teams (before joining the league he worked as LB coach at Alabama for 10 years). He played for and coached under the legendary Bear Bryant and has spent most of his pro career with Bobby Ross, so his mentors are solid. He has a full compliment of talent at his disposal in Detroit (James Stewart, Charlie Batch, Johnnie Morton, Herman Moore, Germane Crowell, etc.) and if the Lions win big and put up yards and points, he may finally get his chance to interview for a HC position. He will do well because he is as articulate as they come.

Peter Giunta, AHC/DC, St. Louis
Last year's Cinderella story St. Louis Rams were known for their high-flying offensive show, but much of the team success went to a stifling defense (6th in total defense, 1st in rushing yardage,1st in interceptions returned for TDs, 6th in the NFC in takeaways, etc.). The leader of this pack was DC Pete Giunta (who shared the DC title with former LB coach John Bunting). Known as a master motivator and exceptionally well-prepared strategist, Giunta is another of the coaches who will prosper because his team's success. The Rams will be even better on defense this season, and since the offensive credit goes to new HC Mike Martz, the spotlight and credit for defensive excellence will fall on Giunta. Working for Dick Vermiel has prepared him very well for taking over a franchise in serious need of resurrection.

Others to Watch

Bill Musgrave, OC, Carolina (... if this were horseracing he'd be called a "comer" ... after a career as a player, he has ascended the coaching ranks to become an OC, working with Seifert, Shanahan and Reid, he is getting great training, plus he's only 32...);

Matt Cavanaugh, OC, Baltimore (... learning from one of the brightest in the game, if the Ravens move deep into the playoffs, he may get a call or two...);

Art Shell, OL, Atlanta (... a proven winner who knows how to be a head coach, if the Falcons improve and re-enter the playoffs, some owner will give him another chance, being fired by Al Davis is no deterrent to future success... Mike Shanahan...);

Mike Munchak, OL, Tennessee (... those who know the game, say this former all-pro player has what it takes to become an excellent leader and it doesn't hurt that the Titans are moving to the head of the class...);

Romeo Crennel, DC, Cleveland (... this long-time Parcells understudy is well-respected and now gets the chance to learn from HC Chris Palmer, a Coughlin clone...);

Tim Lewis, DC, Pittsburgh (... this position has helped launch a career or two, Capers, Haslett, etc., so this bright young coach may be a position to capitalize on his status very soon, not to mention he's good...);

Geep Chryst, OC/QB, San Diego (... a very good teacher, who will be in the spotlight if the Chargers' offense is able to score and he gets bad boy Ryan Leaf to play up to his potential...);

Willie Shaw, AHC/DB, Kansas City (...two years ago he was at the top of everyone's short list after a stellar year in charge of the Raiders' defense, 1999 and a falling out in Oakland led to a landing in KC and he will help the Chiefs back to the playoffs, getting noticed all the while...);

Marc Trestman, OC, Arizona (... 2000 is a make or break season for HC Tobin and QB Plummer, now add Trestman to the list, if Plummer regains magic and the O scores in bunches, he is back in the hunt...);

Bill Bates, DB, Dallas (... a few years away, but keep your eye on this coach, his spirit as a player has become his trademark as a coach, he has what it takes...);

Sean Payton, OC, New York Giants (... in 1999, the Giants' offense began to rock-and-roll after he took over playcalling duties from HC Fassel, don't think it went unnoticed in the world's media center...);

Mike Tice, OL, Minnesota (... a Dennis Green favorite and great technician, he's going to be a head coach, although a stop as OC is in order first...);

Greg Knapp, QB, San Francisco (... sure the 49ers are down, but this young coach is still being schooled in the ways of Walsh and the great Niner tradition, this is a formula for head coaching success...);

Mike McCarthy, OC, New Orleans (... the Saints have weapons and may be a surprise team in 2000 or at the latest 2001, given the HC is a former DC, McCarthy will get free reign to run the offensive show, and he may get it done big-time...);

Bobby Jackson, OC, St. Louis (... just before training camp new HC Mike Martz realized he could not be his own OC and he appointed Jackson, being associated with innovative offenses and championships is a ticket worth holding onto...).

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