Glanville Will Not Return to Coach Oilers Next Season

HOUSTON —  Jerry Glanville, who led the Houston Oilers to the playoffs three consecutive years and often feuded with opposing coaches, will not be back to coach the team next season, owner Bud Adams announced Saturday.

Adams said he and Glanville met for more than two hours Saturday afternoon, and “at that meeting we mutually decided that Jerry would not return as our head coach.”

At one time during the announcement, Adams could not hold back tears. During the news conference, he embraced both Glanville and Glanville’s wife, Brenda.

“As you can tell, we have had an emotional day,” Glanville said. “We decided that we wanted to be friends the rest of our lives.”

Adams said General Manager Mike Holovak will return next season and that a coaching search will begin immediately.

“I have no names to give you now. This all happened just this afternoon,” Adams said.

Adams said former Texas A&M; coach Jackie Sherrill, who has been rumored as a candidate for a position with the team, probably was more interested in a managerial position than in coaching.

The owner also said University of Houston Coach Jack Pardee “is a qualified coach, but I don’t know what his position is at UH.”

Glanville said that during their meeting he gave Adams a list of suggestions about how to improve the team. He would not elaborate.

Glanville was seeking an extension on his contract, which expires at the end of next season, and has said he wanted more input into draft day decisions.

Adams said Glanville’s contract was not a problem in negotiations. Glanville said he will receive the $300,000 payment on the final year of his contract.

Glanville held a lengthy meeting with Adams and Holovak on Wednesday and obtained permission to interview for other jobs. Formerly an assistant coach at Atlanta, he interviewed on Thursday for the Falcons’ vacant head coaching job with Adams’ permission.

Falcon owner Rankin Smith Sr. told WAGA-TV in Atlanta Saturday night that Glanville is still a candidate for that head coaching vacancy.

“We are still looking for a coach,” he said “He (Glanville) is one of the guys we are talking to. He’s somebody we’ve interviewed. We’ll continue our search for a coach as we’ve done in the past. He’s still a candidate.”

Glanville, known as the man in black because of his game-day attire, became the 13th coach to be fired in the Oilers’ 30-year history--the fifth in the past 10 years.

The Oilers joined Phoenix, Atlanta and the New York Jets in seeking new coaches.

Glanville reportedly intended to talk with Phoenix and the New York Jets about their vacancies, but the general managers of those teams said they had no plans to talk with him.

The Oilers’ inconsistency on the field and Glanville’s aggressive style caused growing friction in the organization. The Oilers were the most penalized team in pro football in 1989, committing an NFL-record 148 infractions.

AFC Pro Bowl starting quarterback Warren Moon had his best season, but the defense faltered in the stretch drive when it was slowed by injuries.

The Oilers prided themselves in not losing consecutive games since 1987, until their three-game losing streak finished the 1989 season. Although Glanville said he emphasized playing best in the final games of the season, the Oilers lost their last three games by a combined 111-50.

Glanville’s desire to have more control in the draft process and his refusal to hire offensive and defensive coordinators also led to problems. And his brash personality and outspoken comments often have created controversy.

He told an Atlanta television station before his interview, ‘If you’re not sleeping in Atlanta, you’re camping out.”

The comment offended Oiler fans, but Glanville explained he meant no disrespect. He said it was just a Georgia expression and had nothing to do with Texas.

Although he discontinued the practice this season, Glanville received wide publicity for leaving game tickets at front offices for such personalities as Elvis Presley and the Phantom of the Opera.

Glanville battled the Houston media and was especially tough on those who criticized him in print or on the air. The media were the frequent target of the coach’s wit.