Linehan continues to shuffle his staff

[RamWraith]

By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Friday, Feb. 15 2008

The revamping of Rams coach Scott Linehan’s staff continues. Linehan confirmed
Friday that tight ends coach Judd Garrett is being replaced by Jim Chaney, the
Rams’ assistant offensive line coach the past two seasons.
Bob Saunders, the son of newly named offensive coordinator Al Saunders, will
fill Garrett’s spot on the staff as an offensive assistant. New offensive line
coach Steve Loney won’t have a designated assistant next season.
Garrett, 40, came to the Rams in 2006 after six years as an assistant with the
Miami Dolphins and three years with the New Orleans Saints. He was an NCAA
Division I-AA All-America running back at Princeton.
His wife, Kathy, was an All-America soccer player at Princeton. She died Aug.
19, 2007, after a brief illness at age 38. The couple had four children, ages 9
to 15.
Linehan said Garrett needed time "to get everything together with his family.
That was something I felt strongly about personally." Garrett had a year
remaining on his contract, which the team will honor, Linehan said.
"It’s a hard thing, because he requires some more time at home," Linehan said.
"You want the best for everybody in these situations. In his position, it’s not
the best thing for him to be away from his family. . . .
"I told him he wasn’t going to have a coaching position. We could’ve reassigned
him to work somewhere in the organization, but as I thought about it, I thought
the best thing would be to let him know that we’ll take care of the contract so
he has that and can take the year to kind of get things squared away. He’s free
to look for another job, although I don’t know if at this time that would be
the best thing."
Garrett is the seventh member of Linehan’s 19-man staff to be fired or to leave
in the wake of the Rams’ 3-13 season, their worst record since moving to St.
Louis in 1995.
Chaney, 46, also joined the Rams in 2006, his first NFL job after 21 years in
college coaching, including nine seasons as offensive coordinator at Purdue.
Bob Saunders, 31, has worked for his father as an offensive assistant for six
years, four in Kansas City and then two in Washington.
The only opening remaining on Linehan’s staff is for an assistant strength and
conditioning coach.

[moloch41]

The only opening remaining on Linehan’s staff is for an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Did they hire a defensive backs coach?

[bigredman]

That was a very classy and thoughtful move by Linehan and the Ram's front office toward Garrett. It is that type of compassion that is so often lost in the corporate or sport world, and it makes me proud to be a Rams fan.

Good luck to you Mr. Garrett. My best wishes to you and your children, and I hope you come back the Ram family when you can.

[Drummerman1011]

ya ron milus, hired from within for secondary coach.