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Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt fired Romeo Crennel on Monday morning and has not yet made a decision on GM Scott PIoli. Hunt spoke with the Chiefs website about the coaching search, a timetable on making a decision and how the new head coach will fit into the organizational structure.
A few highlights of Hunt's interview on KCChiefs.com:
Chiefs coaching interviews lined up: Dirk Koetter | Keith Armstrong | Full updates
-A decision on GM Scott Pioli and the rest of the department will "come later". More changes could be coming.
-"We don't have a timetable" on making these decisions.
-"We're very organized," Clark said of the coaching search. "I'll be starting the search this afternoon. We have a number of candidates I'm very excited about."
-For the first time in franchise history, the head coach will report to Hunt. "I'm going to lead the search and I'll hire the next coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and he will report directly to me."
-"It is a significant change," Hunt said of the coach reporting to the owner. "I just feel it's so important that we get the right head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and I think we'll have the best chance of doing that with a direct report to me."
Two reactions:
The coach reporting directly to the owner is unique. Outside of those guys who have full control over personnel, that doesn't happen that often.
Seems to me Pioli has been neutered a little bit if he sticks around. Picking the head coach is a big part of the GM's job. Pioli will not have that ability. I don't see any other way to look at it except that Pioli's power within the organization has diminished (if he's still there).
Update: Albert Breer of the NFL Network interviewed Hunt and has some more insight behind this decision:
Hunt told me the restructuring -- having the GM & coach report to him -- was done solely b/c he thinks it'll help attract the best coach.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 31, 2012
New structure is a sea change for KC. Coach has reported to GM or president for decades. Hunt sees new structure like the Steelers' setup.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 31, 2012
Also asked Hunt if he thinks Pioli can be the man to turn things around. He said, "I haven't ruled that out." But ...
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 31, 2012
... Hunt also didn't rule out that Pioli could wind up being out if the right coach pushes change in the personnel department.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 31, 2012