Coaches Lost: 5
By John White
This is becoming a game of attrition. The Coaches Lost Scoreboard is about to tilt trying to keep up.
On Wednesday, the Charlotte Observer reported that Mike Trgovac was staying with the Carolina Panthers for one more year.
"Despite speculation about his future, the Observer has learned the team and Trgovac remain committed to each other and he is expected to sign a contract extension soon."
Now, that story has changed. According to the News & Observer, Trgovac is out.
"Mike Trgovac has had a change of heart and will not be returning as the Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator, according to team general manager Marty Hurney.“We offered Trgo a contract and told him we wanted him back, but he informed us last night he wanted to pursue other options,” said Hurney.As recently as earlier Wednesday, Trgovac was planning to remain with the Panthers and sign a new contract. He, coach John Fox and Hurney were together at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and were making plans for the 2009 season."
In a matter of 24 hours, Trgovac had a change of heart, decided not to sign the extension and is now headed elsewhere, or at least to the unemployment line.
Now we learn that defensive backs coach Tim Lewis is leaving as well from the Observer.
"The Panthers now have to hire four new defensive assistants after news this morning that coordinator Mike Trgovac turned down an offer to return and, according to espn.com, defensive backs coach Tim Lewis is leaving for the same position in Seattle."
Let’s count ’em up, shall we? That means the team has lost their defensive coordinator, defensive line coach, defensive backs coach and linebackers coach – not to mention the loss of a quarterbacks coach. Could this be a case of rats jumping off a sinking ship? Are these coaches just not interested in working with John Fox, anymore?
Or could this simply be a matter of the team wanting to take their defense in an entirely new direction? Is a 3-4 defense coming to Carolina? Is any of this related to the Julius Peppers saga?
These are all questions that we will have to attempt to answer throughout the off season.
We may also be working to keep score of the coaches lost.