Schottenheimer Has New Vacancy to Fill
Thursday, February 8, 2007; 10:54 PM
SAN DIEGO -- Nearly a month after they melted down in the playoffs, the San Diego Chargers are looking at another big loss.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was hired as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, following offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and two other assistants out of town for better jobs.
  Wade Phillips, right, takes the podium after being introduced as the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys during a news conference at the Cowboys headquarters in Irving, Texas, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin) (Ron Heflin - AP)   The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Jaguars Tackle in Critical Condition • Lions Bolster Backfield With R. Johnson |
"Change in our business is inevitable, whether you win or lose," coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "When you have the kind of success we've had in the last three years, you're going to have people interested in your staff. We've lost two excellent coordinators to opportunities that are richly deserved."
Schottenheimer said Phillips did a "terrific job for us" in three seasons, during which the Chargers were 35-13. "His contributions helped us become one of the best teams in the NFL, particularly on defense."
General manager A.J. Smith wasn't surprised to see Phillips leave, but sounded concerned at losing both coordinators.
"Both in the same year _ Wow," Smith said. "We shall see what happens to our team, when Marty hires a new coach.
"I wish it wasn't two guys in the same year, speaking personally as GM, but I'm happy for the guys, because the aspiration is to become a head coach," said Smith, who lets Schottenheimer hire and fire assistant coaches.
The coaching exodus follows the Chargers' shocking 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots on Jan. 14. After going an NFL-best 14-2, the Chargers had four turnovers and committed numerous other mistakes.
Cameron was hired as Miami's head coach on Jan. 19.
Tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski became the Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator, and linebackers coach Greg Manusky was hired as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator.
Running backs coach Clarence Shelmon, who's never been a coordinator, was promoted to replace Cameron. He accepted only a one-year contract due to Schottenheimer's lame-duck status. Schottenheimer, under contract through 2007, declined the team's offer of a $4.5 million, one-year extension through 2008, which came with a club-option $1 million buyout. Schottenheimer has been at odds with Smith since the 2005 season.
While the Chargers announced Shelmon's promotion on Jan. 26, they haven't formally introduced him as the new coordinator. As of Tuesday, he hadn't signed his new deal because his agent and the team were still working on contract language.
