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Exclusive Interview with Mike McCoy

Posted Jan 15, 2013

Just minutes before he was officially announced as the newest head coach of the San Diego Chargers, Mike McCoy met with Chargers.com for a wide ranging interview.

Photo Gallery: New Head Coach Mike McCoy | A Family Affair | History of McCoy | More Photos

Here is what he had to say.

Chargers.com: Talk about how the last few days have gone for you.

McCoy: It’s been a very exciting couple days. It’s a great opportunity to work for such a fine organization.  I thank the Spanos family for this opportunity.

Chargers.com: What was the most intriguing part of the Chargers head coaching position?

McCoy: I think the tradition of the team.  There’s been a winning tradition here for a long time.  A lot of great players have come through here.  It’s a great opportunity.

Chargers.com: What was the interview process like?

McCoy: It happened in a hurry.  Unfortunately (the Broncos) lost the game the other night, and the Spanos family contacted my agent sometime after the game.  We had to get things squared away in Denver with exit meetings, so we did that yesterday and we had a great meeting in the morning.  Right away you knew that it was a fit.  Talking to the Spanos family, Tom Telesco and Ron Wolf, it was easy.  We clicked right away, it was a smooth transition and that’s why we’re here today.

Chargers.com: What is your perspective of the Chargers having played against them a lot in the division?

McCoy: It’s always been a tough, physical game against them.  They’ve been very competitive.  Philip Rivers sets the tempo for this football team.  He’s one of the great competitors out there.  When we signed Peyton Manning last year, he had a great comment coming out that ‘Hey, it’s great that he’s here.  It’s going to make it that much of a better division, a tougher division to win, and we’ve got to play better every week.

Chargers.com: Looking at this roster you must be excited about the weapons on both sides of the ball.

McCoy: There’s a good core here.  It’s going to be our job as coaches moving forward to evaluate the roster in the next couple weeks and decide where we go from here.

Chargers.com: You must be very excited to work with Philip Rivers.

McCoy: Without a doubt.  It’s great to have a great competitor like him to be the leader and face of your franchise.   So we’re looking for great things from him.

Chargers.com: Do you see yourself calling the plays or are you going to hire an offensive coordinator?

McCoy: We’re going to hire an offensive coordinator.  I’ll be involved in the offense and what we’re doing moving forward.  We’ll see how that goes as time goes on.

Chargers.com: On the other side of the ball, what do you see for the defense?

McCoy: We’re going to evaluate the staff that’s here and talk to everybody.  And we have a list of coaches to talk to, and that’s going to work itself out over time.

Chargers.com: Lay out your next couple weeks for us.

McCoy: We’re going to be awfully busy.  We’re going to do the press conference here this afternoon, and moving forward Tom and I are going to sit down make a plan on how we want to go the next couple weeks. We’re going to go to Mobile for the Senior Bowl, and keep working it one day at a time and let everything flow.  And we’re going to hire a staff also.

Chargers.com: How excited are you to work with Tom Telesco?

McCoy:  It’s a great opportunity to work with someone like Tom.  He was trained in Indianapolis for a number of years there.  They have a great track record of drafting and bringing free agents in, and building the roster the way it’s supposed to be by taking advantage of what they have.

Chargers.com: You’re a Bay Area guy.  Tell us a little about yourself.  Hope you weren’t a Raiders fan.

McCoy: Never was a Raiders fan.  I grew up actually being a Dallas Cowboys fan.  Once I was old enough to understand the game, I loved the 49ers when Joe Montana was playing.  But it’s great to be down here. 

Chargers.com: Finally, what are you most excited about?

McCoy: Just the opportunity to work for a great organization with such a great tradition.

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