Post by MOnarchsRule on Jul 27, 2005 7:59:00 GMT -5
By Don Golden, Associated Press writer
KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Ted Cotrell went out as the Kansas City Monarchs' coach yesterday in a manner that was as confusing as the team's play during his two years as head man -- he fired himself.
"I was not fired, I am not quitting," Cottrell, 3-18 as the team's coach, said in announcing that he was stepping down after Sunday's game against Birmingham. The move came after a meeting Thursday with Sean Calliard, the team's owner/GM. But it was called by Cottrell, who didn't want to drag out the inevitable into Labor Day weekend. And it was Cotrell as Head coach who made the decision that a change was necessary.
"When you're 1-11 and 2-7, that just doesn't cut it," Cottrell said. "We've been everything but respectable. A change has to be made. I hold myself accountable... It hasn't worked. If you take emotion out of this and I did, it's clear that the head coach should step down."
Cotrell's departure was hardly unexpected given this season's record, one better than the ten game losing streak last season, worst in XFL history. Three weeks ago, after a 31-6 loss at New York, he acknowledged the inevitable by citing the team's record.
"He came to this job thinking he'd be fulfilling the dream of his life," Calliard said. "It became more a nightmare than a dream. We wish him and his family well in the rest of their endeavors."
The nightmare began in 2003, the final year of Cotrell 's three years as defensive coordinator of the New York Jets. After going to the divisional playoffs in 2002, and starting the 2004 season 1-1, he lost his last ten games as head coach of the Monarchs. That left Cotrell at 9-28 in his last 37 games.
This season wasn't supposed to be a loser.
The Monarchs committed more than $15 million to free agents, led by Rashaan Shehee, who helped lead the Bolts to last August's X-Bowl. He received $19 million over five years, but started slow as the team's starting halfback with no touchdowns in the first 7 games. Then, as he was driving down the field for the go-ahead score on July 3 late against Pittsburgh (his only 100 yard rushing day for KC), he fumbled -- a microcosm of the team's season. The record also reflected in attendance, another factor that Cotrell acknowledged. Def. Co-Ord. Eric Mangini will serve as the interim coach for the rest of the season.
Among the names that could be on the Monarchs' short coaching list are Pepper Johnson of the New York Hitmen and Rod Marinelli of Tampa Bay.
KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Ted Cotrell went out as the Kansas City Monarchs' coach yesterday in a manner that was as confusing as the team's play during his two years as head man -- he fired himself.
"I was not fired, I am not quitting," Cottrell, 3-18 as the team's coach, said in announcing that he was stepping down after Sunday's game against Birmingham. The move came after a meeting Thursday with Sean Calliard, the team's owner/GM. But it was called by Cottrell, who didn't want to drag out the inevitable into Labor Day weekend. And it was Cotrell as Head coach who made the decision that a change was necessary.
"When you're 1-11 and 2-7, that just doesn't cut it," Cottrell said. "We've been everything but respectable. A change has to be made. I hold myself accountable... It hasn't worked. If you take emotion out of this and I did, it's clear that the head coach should step down."
Cotrell's departure was hardly unexpected given this season's record, one better than the ten game losing streak last season, worst in XFL history. Three weeks ago, after a 31-6 loss at New York, he acknowledged the inevitable by citing the team's record.
"He came to this job thinking he'd be fulfilling the dream of his life," Calliard said. "It became more a nightmare than a dream. We wish him and his family well in the rest of their endeavors."
The nightmare began in 2003, the final year of Cotrell 's three years as defensive coordinator of the New York Jets. After going to the divisional playoffs in 2002, and starting the 2004 season 1-1, he lost his last ten games as head coach of the Monarchs. That left Cotrell at 9-28 in his last 37 games.
This season wasn't supposed to be a loser.
The Monarchs committed more than $15 million to free agents, led by Rashaan Shehee, who helped lead the Bolts to last August's X-Bowl. He received $19 million over five years, but started slow as the team's starting halfback with no touchdowns in the first 7 games. Then, as he was driving down the field for the go-ahead score on July 3 late against Pittsburgh (his only 100 yard rushing day for KC), he fumbled -- a microcosm of the team's season. The record also reflected in attendance, another factor that Cotrell acknowledged. Def. Co-Ord. Eric Mangini will serve as the interim coach for the rest of the season.
Among the names that could be on the Monarchs' short coaching list are Pepper Johnson of the New York Hitmen and Rod Marinelli of Tampa Bay.
