Chargers Hire Turner as Head Coach

Norv Turner got his third shot at a top job when he was given a four-year contract Monday to take over a team that went an NFL-best 14-2 before melting down in the playoffs and then in the front office.

The hiring came a week after the surprise firing of Marty Schottenheimer and less than 24 hours after the Chargers finished interviewing the last of six candidates. Turner was the only one with NFL head coaching experience and the only one from the offensive side of the ball.

The Chargers also hired Ted Cottrell as defensive coordinator.

While the immediate reaction by fans was lukewarm, the Chargers pointed to Turner's previous experience and the chance at continuity. Turner was San Diego's offensive coordinator in 2001, when he installed the system that helped carry LaDainian Tomlinson to the league MVP award in 2006.

"This isn't a team where you're rebuilding," said Turner, who had been San Francisco's offensive coordinator. "We should start fast. We should be good early and we should be good late. Not having to go through the normal things you have to go through when you make a coaching change is going to help the players more than anyone."

Turner has done well working with young players, and quarterback Philip Rivers is expected to benefit from his tutelage. Rivers was voted to the Pro Bowl as a first-year starter, but tailed off down the stretch.

Turner also knows general manager A.J. Smith, who was an assistant to the late John Butler in 2001. Smith survived a power struggle with Schottenheimer, who was fired last Monday by team president Dean Spanos, who cited a "dysfunctional situation" between the coach and GM.

Turner said he spoke with a handful of players on Monday morning and they seemed relieved there wouldn't be major changes.

Turner was one of the masterminds behind the Dallas offenses led by Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin and NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith. He was the Cowboys' offensive coordinator for three years, including when they won the Super Bowl after the 1992 and '93 seasons.

While Schottenheimer had trouble winning in the postseason, including going 0-2 in San Diego, Turner had trouble winning in the regular season. He was a combined 58-82-1 in two seasons as coach at Oakland and not quite seven full seasons with Washington.

Turner took over the Redskins in 1994, going 49-59-1 with one trip to the playoffs, which resulted in a 1-1 record. He was fired by Dan Snyder with three games left in the 2000 season, when he could produce only a 7-6 record with a $100 million roster.

After Terry Robiskie coached the last three games in 2000, the Redskins hired Schottenheimer, who went 8-8 in 2001 before being fired by Snyder. Schottenheimer was hired by the Chargers, a job Turner interviewed for. Turner then became Miami's offensive coordinator.

Turner was fired by the Raiders in 2005 after going 9-23 in two seasons.

San Francisco's Mike Nolan quickly hired Turner to take over the NFL's 32nd-ranked offense. He helped Frank Gore become the NFC's leading rusher in a breakout season, and got progress from Alex Smith.


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