Former Packers GM Ron Wolf was hired on Monday as a consultant in the selection of the next Chargers general manager and head coach. Wolf will work on the search with three others: owner/team president Dean Spanos, Ed McGuire, who is the Chargers' assistant GM and executive VP of football operations, and John Spanos, the team's director of college scouting.
The goal is to first hire a GM who will then join the gang of four in the search for a head coach. “That is a playbook that has been designed by Dean Spanos, and that is exactly what we are following,” Wolf said.
Wolf has received over 50 calls from inquiring candidates. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said. “I think that is an indication how the people within the league view the opportunity to go to work with the Chargers.”
Wolf believes the heavy interest is a result of pieces that are already in place. The Chargers already have a QB in Philip Rivers and the defensive unit and kicking game are strong. “It’s a pretty good deal,” Wolf said.
Time is of the essence in making a GM hire because, in the interim, a highly qualified coach could land with another team. Seven head coaches were fired on Monday. “There is always that concern,” Wolf said. “You do not want to miss a ‘really good’ coach. However, with the job like the Chargers available, I would think that it would be foolish for someone who is on the list to not at least wait and see.”
Wolf did not put a number on how many candidates he would like to interview. However, past experiences have taught him it’s best to be thorough.
“I have had to do this three times,” Wolf said. “The one time I really fouled it up is when I put limitations on the number of people I was going to interview. Or, the qualifications on the number of people I was going to interview. I really screwed that up. I have stressed to Dean Spanos that the more people you interview, the better your opportunities are of finding that gem.”
Spanos made it clear he does not want the names of any candidates revealed until after the hires are made. Names, however, are starting to leak.
Jimmy Raye, currently the Bolts director of player personnel, is believed to have already been interviewed. Raye was considered to be the leading candidate for the GM job before Wolf was hired. Wolf confirmed an interview was conducted on Tuesday with a current member of the organization.
There are at least four other candidates, according to Bernie Wilson of the AP. They include: Tom Gamble, the 49ers director of player personnel; David Caldwell, the Colts director of player personnel; Steve Keim, the Cardinals VP of player personnel and Tom Telesco the Colts VP of football operations.
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