ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions hired Rod Marinelli because they hope he's the tough coach they need to turn around the team that has been the NFL's worst since 2001.
Marinelli, who spent the past 10 seasons in Tampa Bay as defensive line coach, certainly looked and sounded like the right fit Thursday.
"There's one voice for discipline. Mine," the Vietnam veteran said during his introductory news conference. "There's one voice for leadership. Mine."
Lions president Matt Millen acknowledged the team he began crafting five years ago -- which has compiled a league-worst 21-59 record -- has been soft.
"That's my fault," said Millen, who later added he will never quit his job in Detroit.
Millen interviewed 12 coaches the past two weeks, a hiring process that was in stark contrast to the brief searches leading to the hirings of Steve Mariucci and Marty Mornhinweg.
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| Rod Marinelli says he's had plenty of preparation to be a head coach. (AP) |
Marinelli, who has a four-year contract, bristled at the notion of facing a difficult learning curve next season when he is a head coach for the first time at any level.
He had the title of assistant head coach added by the Buccaneers in 2002, a role he also had at Arizona State and California during his 20 years as a college coach.
"That has prepared me to be a head coach," the 56-year-old Marinelli said.
Marinelli said he had a couple of opportunities to be a defensive coordinator, but Tampa Bay denied suitors permission to interview him.
Millen is not bothered by Marinelli's lack of head coaching experience.
"It's been done before, there have been guys that have come from the same route," Millen said. "To me, it's less about what they've done, and more about who they are.
