The list of candidates the Chargers plan on talking to for their open head coaching spot is taking shape. According to reports from NBC’s Pro Football Talk the Bolts have made requests and are working out plans to talk to the following six men:
Matt Patricia, Patriots Defensive Coordinator
Vance Joseph, Dolphins Defensive Coordinator
Teryl Austin, Lions Defensive Coordinator
Mike Smith, Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator
Sean McDermott, Panthers Defensive Coordinator
Dave Toub, Chiefs Special Teams Coach
See a pattern forming there?
During coaching searches you will often hear the term “offensive-minded” or “defensive-minded” candidate thrown about. Chargers General Manager Telesco says he the Bolts are not pigeon-holing any particular type of background for their new head coach.
“Offense, defense, special teams, college coach … our pool is pretty big right now.”
However the list of candidates suggests they are thinking someone with a defensive mind set.
San Diego has plenty of good young pieces on defense including likely Defensive Rookie of the Year Joey Bosa and three Pro Bowlers in the secondary in Jason Verrett, Casey Hayward and Brandon Flowers. Yet they still gave up the 4th-most points in the NFL (26.4 per game).
A defensive-minded coach, especially after hiring Norv Turner and Mike McCoy, a pair of guys with offensive backgrounds, would make sense.
Another interesting thing about that is the only man on the list with prior head coaching experience is Smith, who went 67-50 (including playoffs) with the Falcons from 2008-2014. All the rest would be first-time head coaches. The Chargers say they are OK with that.
“We’ve run a lot of numbers in terms of looking at new hires and what makes for a successful head coach,” said Chargers Director of Football Operations John Spanos. “Previous head coaching experience is beneficial. I wouldn’t call it a deciding factor or a deal breaker but it’s something that we’re definitely going to keep in mind.”
Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco echoes that sentiment.
“Previous head coaching experience? Sure. If not, a coordinator, that’s fine.”
It stands to note that historically a head coach in his second stint as a head coach does seem to have the inside track on success. Of the last 15 Super Bowl winning coaches, 10 were in their second or third jobs as an NFL head coach.
Throughout the process the Bolts say they are just looking for a leader who can win, regardless of where he comes from.
“Like I said, pro coach … college coach … football coach,” said Telesco.
The most intriguing candidate on the list is Patricia, who is literally a rocket scientist.
He was an aeronautical engineering major at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute and was working as an engineer for two years out of school before the coaching bug bit him. Patricia caught the attention of someone on the Patriots staff and convinced Bill Belichick to take a chance on him.
Patricia worked his way up to be New England’s Defensive Coordinator and one of Belichick’s most trusted aides partly by using the mind he developed as an engineer breaking down rockets to break down opponents. He will likely interview with multiple teams interested in seeing how his mind works.
