Finally

A decent number of Minnesota Vikings fans have been on the verge of losing their collective minds over having to wait for the announcement of the 2014 Coaching Staff. Mike Zimmer was hired as the head coach of the Vikings on January 15. He stated at his press conference on January 17 that they would announce his coaching staff when it was complete. Over the past three weeks there have been media reports of several coaches that have been hired but nothing was official. This wait drove the fans mad. It was such an ordeal for so many. I believe that today's 24 hour access to pretty much everything is to blame. Everyone expects to be informed of everything, right now. I remember being a curious, little Minnesota Vikings fan in California in the 1970s. No internet. Meager media coverage of my favorite team. It would take me all season to piece together the Vikings roster. Forget trying to find out the assistant defensive line coach. I think that past prepared me to survive a three week wait for the announcement of the 2014 Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staff. It was announced yesterday to the great relief of many. Here it is:

Mike Zimmer-Head Coach

Norv Turner-Offensive Coordinator
George Edwards-Defensive Coordinator
Mike Priefer-Special Teams Coordinator

Robb Akey-Assistant Defensive Line
Jeff Davidson-Offensive Line
Ryan Ficken-Assistant Special Teams
Johnathan Gannon-Assistant Defensive Backs/Quality Control
Jerry Gray-Defensive Backs
Jeff Howard-Defensive Assistant
Klint Kubiak-Assistant Wide Receivers/Quality Control
Andre Patterson-Defensive Line
Drew Petzing-Coaching Assistant
Kevin Stefanski-Tight Ends
George Stewart-Wide Receivers
Scott Turner-Quarterbacks
Kirby Wilson-Running Backs
Adam Zimmer-Linebackers

Mike Priefer, Jeff Davidson, Ryan Ficken, Jeff Howard, Klint Kubiak, Kevin Stefanski, and George Stewart are holdovers from Leslie Frazier's staff. Andre Patterson makes a return to Minnesota. He was on Dennis Green's staff in the late '90s.

This is a solid, experienced group of coaches. It's Mike Zimmer's first, and long deserved, shot at head coaching job. While he has nice mentors like Bill Parcells and Mike Price, it's nice to have a head coaching veteran like Norv Turner in the building. Turner is the most accomplished offensive coach that the Vikings have had in a while, maybe ever. George Edwards and Jerry Gray have defensive coordinator experience. Robb Akey and Andre Patterson have been head coaches at the college level. Klint Kubiak, Scott Turner, and Adam Zimmer grew up around professional football as coach's kids. A few fans have balked at the apparent nepotism involved in the hiring of Scott Turner and Adam Zimmer. Especially when they were hired to coach quarterbacks and linebackers. These were positions that left a great deal to be desired in 2013. I seriously doubt that Mike Zimmer would use his first head coaching job to put establishing a daycare above winning football games. Ancient Minneapolis scribe Sid Hartman said that you can't go wrong hiring a coach's kid.

I think that this coaching staff was well worth the wait.