Colts Hire Chuck Pagano As Head Coach

Added on Jan 25, 2012 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

The Indianapolis Colts wasted no time finding a replacement for recently fired head coach Jim Caldwell–on Wednesday the team hired Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. Pagano becomes a NFL head coach for the first time and will be introduced at a news conference on Thursday.

The 51 year Pagano is a well traveled and experienced assistant serving time in Miami and North Carolina in college football and Cleveland and Oakland in the NFL. Pagano gave thanks to the Baltimore Ravens in a statement released by the team:

“It’s difficult to leave the Ravens but I couldn’t pass up on this great opportunity. I’m just thrilled and so excited.”

Pagano clearly made a good impression in his interview–he met with the Colts on Tuesday after the Ravens were eliminated from the playoffs by the New England Patriots. Of course the Ravens’ defensive stripes are well known around the league and Pagano is the fourth Baltimore defensive coordinator to get a head coaching gig.

Current Ravens’ linebacker Terrell Suggs said that Pagano is always thinking on the sidelines:

“Chuck is unorthodox. He’s like The Joker. You never really expect what he’s going to do, and everything has a motive.”

Defensive end Cory Redding says Pagano is defnitely a ‘player’s coach’:

“What makes him good? He relates to the players a whole lot. He’s almost like a player in a D-coordinator’s position. The guy has so much fun with us. He treats you like more than a player. It’s like we’re his sons. He wants us to do well. He keeps it fresh. He knows everybody’s strengths and puts them in position to make plays.”

Ravens’ linebacker Paul Kruger was confident that Pagano would succeed as a NFL head coach well before he was offered the Colts gig:

“Chuck has a leadership quality about him. He’s humble but he also knows when to take the reins and take charge. He doesn’t try to dominate you in every meeting. He’s just a coach that knows exactly how players are and what direction they need. He’s a hell of a coach and I really think he’ll be a head coach one day.”