http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article130454659.html
HOUSTON Adam Gase's first two years in the NFL were spent in the Detroit Lions' scouting department, where he filled his days "putting things up on the wall."
At least that was Steve Mariucci's recollection of how things were back in 2005. Mariucci was the Lions coach at the time, and the person Gase went to in hopes of getting out of the personnel department.
"He came to me and said, 'Coach, I want to get into coaching. I want to be a coach. I don't want to be a scout. I want to be a coach,'" Mariucci, now an NFL Network analyst, said Thursday. "And this was not in the offseason when you can just think about it. This was right before the season started, if I can recall."
Mariucci continued: "And he sat down and I could listen to this guy, and I didn't know him before that, and he seemed really eager. He seemed committed to being a coach."
Gase's impassioned sales pitch worked. Mariucci gave him an entry-level coaching job: offensive assistant.
Fourteen years later, Gase is one of the best young coaches in football. Gase finished his first season as Dolphins coach with a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance.
Thanks to Steve for giving Adam the opportunity.
HOUSTON Adam Gase's first two years in the NFL were spent in the Detroit Lions' scouting department, where he filled his days "putting things up on the wall."
At least that was Steve Mariucci's recollection of how things were back in 2005. Mariucci was the Lions coach at the time, and the person Gase went to in hopes of getting out of the personnel department.
"He came to me and said, 'Coach, I want to get into coaching. I want to be a coach. I don't want to be a scout. I want to be a coach,'" Mariucci, now an NFL Network analyst, said Thursday. "And this was not in the offseason when you can just think about it. This was right before the season started, if I can recall."
Mariucci continued: "And he sat down and I could listen to this guy, and I didn't know him before that, and he seemed really eager. He seemed committed to being a coach."
Gase's impassioned sales pitch worked. Mariucci gave him an entry-level coaching job: offensive assistant.
Fourteen years later, Gase is one of the best young coaches in football. Gase finished his first season as Dolphins coach with a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance.
Thanks to Steve for giving Adam the opportunity.
