Former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville to coach UFL’s Hartford Colonials
On Monday, the United Football League’s (UFL) Hartford Colonials will be announcing Jerry Glanville as their new head coach.
The 68-year-old former National Football League (NFL) coach takes the place of Chris Palmer, who left the Colonials to be the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator. Palmer had been the Colonials’ general manager and head coach during the team’s first year
in Hartford, Connecticut.
“You do what you love,” Glanville said. “The best part of this deal is watching players get better. That's what it's all about. If I was feeling any better, they'd have to send me to jail.”
Glanville first talked with the UFL’s management about the job a year ago, including speaking with UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue. After Palmer left to take up the vacant offensive coordinator post with the Titans, Colonials owner Bill Mayer and his son
interviewed Glanville and felt that he was the man for the job.
“I was so impressed,” Glanville said. “I got real excited when I interviewed with [Buffalo Bills owner] Ralph Wilson [for the defensive coordinator's position] and [Houston Oilers owner] Bud Adams. I saw the same grit and determination in their eyes. I came
away thinking, 'How would you not want to work with these guys?'”
Another chance to coach a team was something that Glanville could not pass up.
“I've made mistakes in the past,” he said. “I've gone where the money was. Over time, you learn what's important. You do what you're born to do. Preachers preach, coaches coach.”
In the first two seasons of the UFL, they lost almost $80 million. They still owe about $5 million, which brings the league’s third season into question.
“Oh, we're going to have a third season,” Glanville insisted. “I can assure you of that.”
Glanville’s most recent coaching job was at Portland State University. He coached there from 2007 to 2009 and came away with a 9-24 record. Before then, he had been with the University of Hawaii as a defensive coordinator for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He
also coached in the NFL since 1974. He had been the defensive assistant and specials teams coach with the Detroit Lions for two years, after which he was hired as defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. He was also head coach
of the Oilers and then the Falcons until 1993.
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