Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO, Clark Hunt, sat down with “The Voice of the Chiefs” Mitch Holthus today to elaborate on a number of topics, including the team’s search for a new head coach and the future of GM Scott Pioli.
On Scott Pioli:
"We announced today as part of Romeo leaving the organization the football operations continues to be under review and that includes Scott’s position. It’s important for me to get the search started right away for the new head coach and the decisions on the rest of the department will come later and it’s possible we’ll have additional changes."
On the type of person he wants to be the new head coach:
"I want somebody who’s a proven leader and somebody who’s been part of building a successful program. I want somebody of high integrity, somebody who’s an effective communicator and teacher, somebody who has a high football IQ, enjoys working hard and is willing to hold himself and those around him accountable."
On if there is a timetable for the hire:
"Well we don’t have a timetable but part of making the decision today was so we can get the search started right away. I’ll actually be getting the search started this afternoon, that process. We have a number of candidates who I’m very excited about but at the end of the day the most important thing is to get the right person for the Kansas City Chiefs and somebody who can lead us back to the playoffs and eventually the Super Bowl."
On the fact that the new head coach will report directly to him:
"I’m going to lead the search and I’ll hire the next coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and he’ll report directly to me.It is a significant change. I just feel it’s so important that we get the right head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and I think we’ll have the best chance of doing that with a direct report to me."
Wow. This was a really interesting interview. Hunt, for the first time in the history of the organization, will be the one the head coach reports to. In the past, there has always been a GM as a buffer. This is in stark contrast to how things have been done under Pioli. It is hard to believe Hunt has a ton of faith in Pioli if he is taking matters into his own hands here.
See the entire interview at KCChiefs.com