Gilbride Hired to Add Some Punch to Chargers

SAN DIEGO — Kevin Gilbride joined some exclusive company Saturday when he was hired as coach of the San Diego Chargers.

The only other coaches hired by General Manager Bobby Beathard--Joe Gibbs at Washington in 1981 and Bobby Ross in San Diego five years ago--combined to play in five Super Bowls.

Gilbride, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive coordinator the last two years, accepted the Chargers’ offer of a five-year contract Friday night. He didn’t waver even though the St. Louis Rams stepped up their run at him with a 2 a.m. pitch to his agent.

“I thought the best move I could make was to go with the Chargers’ organization,” Gilbride said during a conference call from his home in Jacksonville. “The success they’ve had, the ability of Bobby Beathard, the support of the Spanos family, for me was the best fit. So it wasn’t that difficult of a decision at all.”

Beathard said Gilbride “absolutely” was the best person to try to get the Chargers back into the Super Bowl. It was only two seasons ago that they made their only Super Bowl appearance, a 49-26 loss to San Francisco.

“He’s a very, very progressive offensive coach,” Beathard said. “He’s had an outstanding track record wherever he’s been.”

While San Diego’s offense sputtered badly last season, Gilbride’s potent offense helped lead the Jaguars into the AFC championship game in only their second season. Quarterback Mark Brunell, tutored by Gilbride, threw for an NFL-high 4,145 yards, and the Jaguars were first in the NFL in passing offense and second in overall offense.

This was perhaps the most important hire of Beathard’s career. The forced resignation of the extremely popular Ross on Jan. 3 came amid increasing opposition to the $78-million expansion of Jack Murphy Stadium as part of a deal to keep the Chargers in town through 2020 and to bring the Super Bowl here next year.

The Chargers were 8-8 this year and 17-17 since winning the AFC championship two years ago.

Gilbride, 45, beat out Carolina Panther defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and former New Orleans Saint coach Jim Mora. While Fangio had no prior coaching experience, Gilbride compiled a 35-14-2 record at Southern Connecticut State from 1980-84. Mora was seen as a fallback candidate.

“Any one would have been the right decision,” Beathard said. “In the end, Kevin was the one where if you lost one of them, which would hurt the most? It just ended up being Kevin.”

Gilbride said it would be a benefit to follow Ross, now the coach of the Detroit Lions.

“I have nothing but the greatest of respect for coach Ross and what he and his staff did,” Gilbride said. “Again, I think that’s an advantage that you have coming in, where some guys have been exposed to the standard of excellence. They know what it requires to perform that way on game day. I think that will be something that will be a help, not a hindrance.”

Prior to his success with the Jaguars, Gilbride’s most famous moment came in a 1993 Monday night game when Buddy Ryan threw a punch at him when both were on the Houston Oilers’ coaching staff.

Gilbride, who would like to let that moment die, was asked about it Saturday.

“You mean when he threw and missed?” Gilbride said.

“I’m sorry it happened, but it wasn’t something that I precipitated and it’s not something I wish to really elaborate on right now,” he said.

Gilbride would prefer that people remember the overall offensive success and the playoff run while he was offensive coordinator and then assistant coach with the Oilers, as well as Jacksonville’s playoff run this year.

Charger backup quarterback Sean Salisbury, who was released from the Oilers the day before the 1994 season started, agreed.

“That’s old news,” said Salisbury, who added: “If the fight would have gone more than one punch, Kevin would have beat him like a drum.”

The Chargers’ job is the “perfect place at a perfect time” for Gilbride, Salisbury said.

Charger players and fans should be quick to embrace Gilbride, Salisbury said, “because there’s going to be lots of action.”

Gilbride favors “whatever it takes to move the football.” He said he’s close to naming an offensive and defensive coordinator.