In the Spanos mold, Turner a logical fit

By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:13 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Team president Dean Spanos has seen good, but mostly bad, in his family's 23-year association with the Chargers.

With just seven winning seasons over that span, heartache is a nearly constant companion of the Spanoses.

But few bummers compared to those of January, when the Chargers self-destructed in a playoff loss to the New England Patriots. That ultimately got coach Marty Schottenheimer fired, even though three of the Spanoses' plus-.500 years came with Schottenheimer as head coach.

On Monday, Norv Turner was announced as Schottenheimer's replacement.

Spanos, who took over day-to-day operations from his father, Alex, in 1994, has also hired Kevin Gilbride (6-16), June Jones (3-7) and Mike Riley (14-34) as head coaches, in addition to Schottenheimer (47-33).

Turner's arrival comes with an unsightly 58-82-1 career record, but Spanos is confident he made the correct selection.

"This was the right hire for the San Diego Chargers,'' Spanos said. "All these candidates were qualified in some way shape or form, and I could make a case for any of them.''

Many NFL insiders thought general manager A.J. Smith would select one of the five other applicants. No member of that group had NFL head-coaching experience, but all brought a fresh energy and approach.

Still, it wasn't enough for the Chargers to take a flier on Mike Singletary, Mike Zimmer, Rex Ryan, Ron Rivera or Gary Gibbs.

"These guys are going to be coaches in the NFL,'' Spanos said, "no doubt about it.''

Just not with the Chargers ---- at this point. Remember, Turner was skipped when the Chargers decided Schottenheimer was a better pick in 2002. This after Turner served as the team's offensive coordinator in 2001.

"When you look at the experience and maybe maintain the continuity that is so important here, I think Norv gave us the best chance to do that," Spanos said of securing Turner.

The Chargers' path went against this offseason's NFL trend in which five of the other six head coaching vacancies went to first-time head coaches. Former Chargers assistant Wade Phillips, who Dallas hired as head coach, was the exception.

In other locales, giving a hot prospect a chance was the rage: ex-Charger assistant Cam Cameron in Miami, Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona, Bobby Petrino in Atlanta, Lane Kiffin in Oakland and Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh.

The Chargers went with tried-and-true, even if that label brought with it a coach with a dubious distinction. Turner is one of 11 people in NFL history to coach at least 100 regular-season games and make the playoffs just once.

The others? Dan Henning, Mike Holovak, Dom Capers, Marion Campbell, Ray Perkins, Bruce Coslet, Bart Starr, Joe Kuharich, Dick Jauron and Norm Van Brocklin.

Smith knew what Spanos was seeking in Turner ---- something he hasn't received through previous coaching hires: a Super Bowl title.

"We want to do whatever it takes to win a championship,'' Turner said. "That's the message that I got from Dean.''

Spanos was clear he would have final say on the new coach. Spanos also stressed he would lean heavily on Smith's advice. Smith said he gave Spanos the thumbs up on Turner after Turner's second interview on Sunday night.

"Once we got him in here, my recommendation was that I thought it was the right thing,'' Smith said. "We think we are a good football team and we are so close.''

Turner was unable to flip woeful teams in Washington and Oakland ---- both were coming off 4-12 seasons in his first season as head coach. Here, he inherits a 14-2 squad that has won two of the past three AFC West titles.

"The proof of the pudding will be at the end of the season in 10 months,'' Spanos said. "You never know, but I think it's all situational. He's coming into a pretty good situation. We all know there's a lot of pressure on us to win. He said it, 14-2 is only part of the equation. The other part is once you get in the postseason, what are you going to do?''

The Chargers lost both playoff games under Schottenheimer, running their postseason losing streak to four. Not since the 1994 AFC Championship Game against the Steelers have the Chargers prevailed in the playoffs.

That's long ago. And if Turner doesn't turn those postseason pratfalls around, he'll be gone, too ---- regardless of his four-year contract.

But Spanos doesn't anticipate conducting a coaching search soon.

"I know him, I enjoy working with him,'' Spanos said. "He really is a football guy. He's been around it his whole life, he loves it, he's very passionate about it.

"All the candidates were, don't get me wrong. But just having been with him and knowing how he thinks, just his whole thought process in evaluating the coaching staff and players on this team, makes me think that he knows what he's doing."

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.

Before and after

Much is made about Norv Turnerís 58-82-1 record in Washington and Oakland. Hereís a look at those teamís coaches' regular-seasonÝmarksÝbefore and after Turnerís arrivals:

Washington Redskins

Richie Petitbon 4-12 1993

Norv Turner 49-59 1994-2000

Marty Schottenheimer 8-8 2001

Steve Spurrier 12-20 2002-03

Joe Gibbs 21-27 2004-06

Oakland Raiders

Jon Gruden 38-26 1998-2001

Bill Callahan 15-17 2002-03

Norv Turner 9-23 2004-05

Art Shell 2-14 2006

New Chargers coach Norv Turner is one of 11 head coaches in NFL history to coach in at least 100 regular-season games and advance to the playoffs but once:

Coach Games Record Playoff record

Dan Henning 104 30-73-1 0-0

Mike Holovak 108 52-47-9 1-1

Dom Capers 114 46-68 1-1

Marion Campbell 115 34-80-1 0-0

Ray Perkins 117 42-75 1-1

Bruce Coslet 124 47-77 0-1

+ Norv Turner 127 58-82-1 1-1

Bart Starr 128 52-73-3 1-1

Joe Kuharich 142 58-81-3 0-0

Norm Van Brocklin 173 66-100-7 0-0

++ Dick Jauron 101 43-58 0-10-1

+ Current head coach of the Chargers

++ Current head coach of the Bills

Picking the right coach

Since team president Dean Spanos took over running the Chargersí from his father, Alex, in 1994, he has hired five head coaches; his latest selection is Norv Turner. Hereís a look at the younger Spanosí track record in choosing head coaches, and their regular-season records:

+ Kevin Gilbride: 1997-98 (6-16)

+ June Jones: 1998 (3-7)

+ Mike Riley: 1999-2001 (14-34)

+ Marty Schottenheimer: 2002-06 (47-34)