Zorn surprised to get chance to coach Redskins

Published 10:42 pm Sunday, February 10, 2008

WASHINGTON — Staring at three gleaming Super Bowl trophies in front of him, Jim Zorn paused briefly during his introductory news conference as the Washington Redskins’ new head coach Sunday. Zorn, who had never been a head coach or top-level assistant in the National Football League before joining the Redskins, was in his first official role after replacing Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs.

With Gibbs seated in the second row of the auditorium at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va., Zorn acknowledged his predecessor’s success in leading the Redskins to those championships back in the 1980s and early 1990s. And he said he’s eager to begin the task of trying to add to the collection.

“I look at these three trophies, it’s quite intimidating, and I know who’s behind this little group here,” Zorn said. “I’m very proud to be standing in an organization that has these and … I understand the opportunity I’ve been given. I’m sure there are some surprised people. I know I was surprised to get the opportunity, but I know how hard I’m going to work to earn everyone’s trust and confidence.”

After a coaching search that lasted 33 days and was shrouded in secrecy, the Redskins promoted Zorn, hired as Washington’s offensive coordinator on Jan. 25, to be the team’s sixth head coach since the 2000 season. Zorn, 54, signed a three-year contract.

Formerly the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterbacks coach, Zorn began interviewing late last week for the position. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s surprise move to elevate Zorn completed a process precipitated when Gibbs abruptly retired as team president and coach on Jan. 8.

“I said we’d be thorough and we’d conduct a full process and we did,” Snyder said. “We did just what we said we’d do. What we were looking for was a coach with characteristics. And our characteristics were starting with character, a character person. Joe (Gibbs) has such character and I’ve learned so much not only about him, but about what I and the Redskins want in the future.

“We also talked about leadership, great leadership, but it starts with character. It starts with a person’s character, their integrity, their smarts, their drive, their energy, their passion. We ended up with the right guy. We ended with a person that has all of those plus much, much more.”

Gibbs, who has been publicly supportive of Snyder throughout the search for his successor, applauded the decision. Gibbs is serving as a consultant to Snyder.

“There’s got to be a chemistry and a good feeling for both sides in the process, and I think that’s what happened,” Gibbs said. “I think that’s what led Dan to Jim. I don’t know Jim personally … but everybody that I know that knows him talks about what a great person he is. I think it’s going to be good for Washington to have such a high-quality person.”

Zorn already has made a good impression on some of the assistant coaches he inherited. “Awesome, awesome,” defensive coordinator Greg Blache said about his early dealings with Zorn. “I had to meet him during (last) week. Excellent man. His reputation, we have friends in common, and what they alluded to … everybody you talk to they don’t say good guy, they say great guy.”

Zorn said the development of Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is a priority for the team. Campbell will be playing in his seventh offensive system in eight years dating back to college at Auburn. Zorn is a proponent of the “West Coast” offense, which is based on the short passing game.

“We talked about this,” Zorn said of Campbell’s development. “He’s had all these coordinators in all these different years.

“I’m not going to worry about all the influences he’s had. I’m going to try to dive in and teach him the influences he’s going to have. And I’m going to try to teach him the exact philosophies that I would use teaching any of those college quarterbacks that I had coming up through the ranks and any of those pro quarterbacks I’ve had.

“I’m going to use the same technique because they work at all levels and they will work for him. I hope he’ll be just fired up and ready to go. I hope to see a difference in how he plays next year. I’ll work hard to make sure that happens.”