ENGLEWOOD, Colo. –There will be another familiar face on a division rival's sideline next season as former Broncos Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy has been hired as the head coach of the San Diego Chargers.
McCoy becomes the second Broncos coordinator in the past two seasons to be hired as the head coach of an AFC West team. He joins Dennis Allen, who went from Denver's defensive coordinator to the Oakland Raiders' head coach in the 2012 offseason.
"I've known Mike McCoy for many years and believe he is a tremendous coach," Head Coach John Fox said in a statment. "We've spent nearly a decade coaching together, beginning in Carolina when he was an assistant working with the quarterbacks. He's going to make an excellent head coach and is certainly qualified for the position."
McCoy finished his fourth season as Denver's offensive coordinator in 2012, which tied him as the second-longest tenured coach on the team's staff.
Under McCoy's guidance, Denver's offense helped the team to consecutive AFC West titles in 2011 and '12. A year ago, the offense rode the strength of the league's top rushing attack to the divisional title and a Wild Card playoff victory.
This season, McCoy adapted the offense to the strengths of free agent quarterback Peyton Manning, resulting in the league's fifth-ranked passing offense and No. 2 scoring offense.
"I think he's ready," Manning said of McCoy's head coaching prospects. "I think he's paid his dues. Mike's a good leader. He's had some good coaches that have been mentors to him, different coaches that he's worked with in his years in the NFL that I think he's incorporated some of their leadership philosophies and his own philosophy. Like I said, he's a strong leader. In my opinion, he deserves a shot at one of these head coaching jobs."
After interviewing with various teams, McCoy and the Chargers found a fit and Broncos fans will have plenty of familiarity with another one of the AFC's head coaches.
Broncos Head Coach John Fox is now the longest-tenured AFC West head coach. He will enter his third season with the Broncos in 2013, putting him one season ahead of Allen, who will begin his second year in Oakland, and two ahead of McCoy and newly hired Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid.
"Mike understands offenses in this league," Fox said. "Beyond that, he's got a great football mind. His preparation and detail—his level of organization—is very strong. As a play caller, I had a lot of confidence in him and watched him have great success with that responsibility. I'm happy for Mike, his wife Kellie and their family."
