January is the time of year for coaching changes for many NFL teams and the Minnesota Vikings have made some. The team's most significant change actually took place during the 2016 regular season. That's when offensive coordinator Norv Turner suddenly resigned in October. Tight ends coach Pat Shurmur immediately and fairly smoothly stepped into the interim offensive coordinator role. It was hardly a surprise when the "interim" was removed from his title at the end of the season. The Turner family made a complete exit from the coaching staff when quarterbacks coach Scott Turner and the Vikings parted ways at the end of the season. Those moves resulted in the need for a new tight ends coach. It also resulted in the need for a new running backs coach because the Vikings hired one. Last season Kevin Stefanski coached the running backs. Despite being one of the youngest coaches on the staff Stefanski has been with the Vikings the longest. He joined the team when Brad Childress was hired as head coach in 2006. From 2006-08 he was an assistant to Childress. He was the assistant quarterbacks coach from 2009-13. In that time he saw, dealt with, and coached the likes of Brett Favre, Joe Webb, and nearly every sort of quarterback in between. Stefanski coached tight ends from 2014-15 and running backs last season. He's handled much of the offense in his time in Minnesota so it wasn't much of a surprise when it was announced that quarterbacks are his next responsibility.
The Vikings offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach positions were filled from within the organization. The running backs and tight ends coaches were imported.
The Vikings offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach positions were filled from within the organization. The running backs and tight ends coaches were imported.
Minnesota Vikings Coaching Changes
Offensive coordinator
In: Pat Shurmur
Out: Interim Pat Shurmur
Quarterbacks:
In: Kevin Stefanski
Out: Scott Turner
Running backs:
In: Kennedy Polamalu
Out: Kevin Stafanski
Tight ends:
In: Clancy Barone
Out: Pat Shurmur
Kennedy Polamalu coaching history:
UCLA (1992-93)
Graduate assistant
San Diego State (1994-96)
Running backs/Special teams
Colorado (1997-98)
Running backs
San Diego State (1999)
Linebackers
USC (2000)
Running backs
USC (2001)
Special teams
USC (2002-03)
Running backs/Special teams
Cleveland Browns (2004)
Running backs
Jacksonville Jaguars (2005-09)
Running backs
USC (2010-12)
Offensive coordinator/Running backs
UCLA (2014-15)
Running backs
UCLA (2016)
Offensive coordinator
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has stressed teaching from his coaches. Some of the best football "teachers" are found in the college ranks. Polamalu has a lot of college experience. The surprising thing about his coaching career is his start at UCLA and his eventual return there. How does a USC guy do that?
Kennedy Polamalu coaching history:
UCLA (1992-93)
Graduate assistant
San Diego State (1994-96)
Running backs/Special teams
Colorado (1997-98)
Running backs
San Diego State (1999)
Linebackers
USC (2000)
Running backs
USC (2001)
Special teams
USC (2002-03)
Running backs/Special teams
Cleveland Browns (2004)
Running backs
Jacksonville Jaguars (2005-09)
Running backs
USC (2010-12)
Offensive coordinator/Running backs
UCLA (2014-15)
Running backs
UCLA (2016)
Offensive coordinator
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has stressed teaching from his coaches. Some of the best football "teachers" are found in the college ranks. Polamalu has a lot of college experience. The surprising thing about his coaching career is his start at UCLA and his eventual return there. How does a USC guy do that?
Clancy Barone coaching history:
American River (1987-90)
Offensive line
Sacramento State (1991-92)
Offensive line
Texas A&M 1993
Assistant Offensive line
Eastern Illinos (1994-96)
Offensive line
Wyoming (1997-99)
Offensive line/Offensive coordinator
Houston (2000-02)
Offensive line/Offensive coordinator
Texas State (2003)
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive coordinator
Atlanta Falcons (2004)
Offensive line
Atlanta Falcons (2005-06)
Tight ends
San Diego Chargers (2007-08)
Tight ends
Denver Broncos (2009)
Tight ends
Denver Broncos (2010)
Offensive line
Denver Broncos (2011-14)
Tight ends
Denver Broncos (2015-16)
Offensive line
The development of Broncos tight end Julius Thomas under Barone's tutelage from 2011-14 is a highlight. As is his work with Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. It appears that Barone works well with former basketball players. Kyle Rudolph was a highly recruited basketball player in high school.
Just when it seemed like the Vikings coaching staff was set for 2017, UCLA came in and tapped assistant offensive line coach Hank Fraley to be their offensive line coach. It was only a matter of time before some school or team was going to come calling on Fraley as he's ready to coach a line of his own. Now the Vikings have an assistant offensive line coach vacancy. That's a position that doesn't have to be filled but routinely working with at least 10 players is a little much for one person.
Just when it seemed like the Vikings coaching staff was set for 2017, UCLA came in and tapped assistant offensive line coach Hank Fraley to be their offensive line coach. It was only a matter of time before some school or team was going to come calling on Fraley as he's ready to coach a line of his own. Now the Vikings have an assistant offensive line coach vacancy. That's a position that doesn't have to be filled but routinely working with at least 10 players is a little much for one person.
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