Marty Schottenheimer's Brother, Kurt, Led to Firing

When the Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer yesterday, it quickly became clear that front-office disputes about the coaching staff were the biggest problem. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports this morning that Schottenheimer wanted to hire his brother, Kurt, for the staff, and owner Dean Spanos and general manager A.J. Smith didn't like that idea:

according to sources, the final straw occurred yesterday when Schottenheimer wanted to interview his brother Kurt for the defensive coordinator position. Spanos and Smith did not approve, but Schottenheimer held firm in asserting that he had the right to hire his own staff.

There are few professions with more deeply entrenched nepotism than football coaching, and Kurt Schottenheimer's career has been mostly in the shadow of his older brother, but it's not like Kurt Schottenheimer is totally lacking in qualifications. He's currently the secondary coach of the Packers, and he was previously the defensive coordinator of the Lions.

Although I thought it was the wrong decision, Spanos and Smith decided a month ago that Marty Schottenheimer was the right coach for the Chargers. Once they made that call, they should have let him hire the staff as he saw fit.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-13-2007 @ 7:05AM

Bruce Ciskie said...

I agree with you on all counts.

The Chargers decided Marty was the right coach, and he should have been allowed to hire his own staff.

However, Kurt Schottenheimer is a horrible defensive coach. Packer fans would have celebrated his departure. Ever since he came on as our secondary coach, the defense has been plagued by coverage "miscommunications", missed assignments, and other elementary mistakes.

2-13-2007 @ 8:23AM

Fritz said...

If Dean Spanos and A.J. Smith could fund a village without an idiot, they'd be hired on the spot to share the job.

This is arguably THE stupidest moves in the Chargers long history of doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons.

2-13-2007 @ 9:17AM

ricky lock said...

The Inmates are running the Asylum. Abandon hope.

2-13-2007 @ 9:34AM

Ken said...

Marty would be a good G.M. The lions and should take a look.

2-13-2007 @ 9:53AM

CrayZmaN said...

All I can say is it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! Karma knows your name Snottenheimer and he has spoken!

2-13-2007 @ 10:13AM

timothy haynie said...

Any working joe with a general knowledge of football and decent assistant coaches could win the Superbowl with the talent the Chargers are bringing back (ala
Barry Switzer with da Boys in 1995). I am available.

2-13-2007 @ 10:09AM

Raider Man said...

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. San Diego Sucks!

2-13-2007 @ 10:49AM

R8RFAN4LIFE said...

Marty should go away and die! He's a loser. And the biggest losers are the Chargers. Hey Charger fans 2 bad.HAHA

2-13-2007 @ 12:39PM

aaron said...

Once a choker always a choker.
Thats why marty and the chargers were such a perfect match.
I have the perfect coach for the charger criminals.
Sherrif Joe from arizona.

2-13-2007 @ 12:06PM

daniel said...

I only wish the worst for Marty. However I do think that he is a very good coach. that is why this move makes me so happy. takes me back to the days the chargers fired another good coach named Bobby Ross. I remember all the bolt fans crying back then after a couple years without him, and hope to see the same this time.

2-16-2007 @ 8:35AM

Nate Allred said...

I don't understand. We finally got the players, and a coach that built the team for 5 years, and then fire him with a season best 14-2 record. I think that this was more personal between the owner and coach. Understand, when Phillips left you had vacancies out there, but I think that they should have talk or discussed the issue first. I believe this will damage my team. I've been a fan of San Diego teams since 1968 and when we we get something good the owners go in another direction and it take another 10 years tp recover.

2-19-2007 @ 1:12AM

Yea, the funny thing is about this whole thing is Marty is known to be a control freak and has an ego the size of New York to match it, but he takes all the credit for the success of the bolts and never gives Smith his due. It is Smith who has been pulling the majority of the roster moves and without all this talent Snottenheimer would be coaching sh#t. Marty should do an ego check as he is in great need of it!

nuff said!

2-13-2007 @ 5:37PM

SANDY (let go of my) EGGO CHOKERS said...

Are you Surprised football fans??? the SANDY (let go of my) EGGO CHOKERS always to seem to shoot them self in the FOOT. just when they taking 1 step forward they take 3 steps back ! HEY it's a TRUE TRADITIONAL HISTORY of the CHARGERS (Chokers) ! From Ryan Leaf (Worst 1rd pick BUST in NFL History) NO SUPER BOWL WINS , lowest Rating Watch Super Bowl in there only apperance ( poor 49ers had to share that in there SB win) up to the HOME INVASION of RAIDERNATION ! kicking there fans ass! hahahhaa! ! !WHAT IDIOTS THEY ARE! talk all you want about AL DAVIS! now whats ya arguement with the SPANOS FAMILY, CHARGER FANS??? HAHHAHAHAA TYPICAL CHARGER FANS & CHARGERS THE TRADIONAL SCREW UPS CONTINUE HISTORY SPEACKS FOR ITSELF!

2-13-2007 @ 5:28PM

CHARGERFAN said...

Hey Raider Fan, My grandmother could coach the Chargers and they would still beat that pathetic group of loosers you love so much. Why don't you worry about getting some wins before you make an attempt to talk smack about ANY other team. I live near some good high schools teams, you�ll have to bring your �A� game but maybe you'd have a shot!

Commitment to Embarrassment!!

2-13-2007 @ 5:38PM

NATE ALLRED U SUCK AS A FAN !!! SANDY EGGO TEAMS FAN HUH??? HAHHAHAHHAHHA!!!!! that city can win CHAMPIONSHIPS! CHARGERS(CHOKERS) 0 = S.B. WINS , PARDES (MADRES) 0 = World Series Wins , CLIPPERS = Got the HELL outta SANDY EGGO !what ya gonna tell me the GULLS from that city won a championship?? it's a MINOR LEAGUE Hockey Team ya SANDY EGGO FAN ahahahha u deserve to be a SANDY EGGO FAN you LOSER cuz thats what ya CITY DOES is LOSE! its a PERFECT MATCH ! hahahaha!!

2-13-2007 @ 7:17PM

HEY CHARGERFAN (chokerfan0 WHO STILL OWNS THE CHARGERS ya u might be winnning the battle but who's winning the WAR ? we still got 3 SB WINS to your 0 wins and we still got 18 victories over you ! since 1960 ahahahhahaha !! HOME INVASION when we come to QUALCOM Stadium beating your so-called choker fans in the parking lot & stands AHAHHAH

RAIDER NATION LIVES !

2-16-2007 @ 5:39PM

NHRaidRfan said...

Just wait till the last Quarter Marty, You'll find a way to screw it up.. Sound familar, Gone Again hahhahhhahhahaaa

2-13-2007 @ 11:35PM

Steve said...

Wow, this doesn't reinforce my stereotypes about Raider fans at all......

The combined intelligence from the last few posts couldn't move a feather on a windy day.

2-13-2007 @ 9:45PM

leon said...

HAHAH WOW I AM A DIE HARD RAIDER FAN AND THANK YOU FRONT OFFICE FROM SD BY FAR THE DUMBEST MISTAKE YET NO MORE OC AND NOW NO HC LOOK FOR SMALL THINGS FROM SD NEXT YEAR

2-14-2007 @ 12:44PM

AWW Steve u sound like a Charger (Choker) fan who got beat down in Qaulcom Studium ! Whats a matter TRUTH HURTS :(

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