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GREEN BAY, Wis. (UPIVince Lombardi, 45, backfield coach of the New York G i • ants, Wednesday was named general manager and h e a dcoach of the Green Bay Backers.Lombardi, a member of tin' fa m o u s Fordham '‘seven blocks of g r a n i t e and a coach with the Giants for five years, was hired in a secretsession of the executive com-mittee held immediately aft*t|ror a meeting of the Backer board of directorsThe 13*man executive com mittee approved Lombardi’s selection unanimously, and only one of the 27 board members failed to vote to give the executive committee authority to hire a general manager and coach.Packers president Dominic Olejnic/ak said in announc ing Lombardi’s selection that “Mr. Lombardi's life has been filled with success.” Lombardi's first job will be to hire a staff of assistants, all of whom resigned whens THE BOA HI), with 27 of the115ist-sa1-r* »members present, voted too give the executive committees- complete authority to hire a• *(general manager and o r coach. The executive committee then met and agreed o n Lonbardi, who was notified at his Fair Haven, N. ,T., home.Lombardi succeeds Coach Ray McLean, who resigned in 1958 after the Packer s worst e season in 40 years. The general manager’s job he takesover was created in a front ft office reorganization w h i c h also resulted from the disastrous 1958 season.In his powerful, dual role. Lombardi will have complete 5*i authority t^ run the club and deselect players, unlike his predecessors w ho were s u b* ject to control by the t o p heavy Backer executive system.HisMcLean quit in December tonsi,e• ncte1tappointment ended a widespread search which had precipitated dozens of rumors in recent weeks. A drive to return Packer Founder Curly Lambeau to the team failed to gain enough momentum.THE SALARY or length of Lombardi’s contract were not disclosed. He will come to Green Bay Monday to take his first look at the Packer 11 situation.Lombardi, who played no professional football after graduating from Fordham in 1937, joined the Giants under “ Jim Lee Howell in 1954.In this position he e s t a b-lished a reputation for ability to build smooth working o f-fensive units. This ability also put together the offensive platoon of the unbeaten 1949 Army team while Lombardi was offensive coach underbecome an assistant for theDetroit Lions.IN N E W YORK, Lombardi said he considered the job a “terrific challenge. This is even more of a challenge” than if he had the coaching job at Army. “After all, you can’t top the brand of football they play in the National League.When told McLean made charges about certain “loafers ’ among Packer players. Lombardi said “I’m going in with a perfectly open mind I’m not going into this thingwith the idea that certain boys are loafers.Lombardi roared with laughter when reminded that he also was moving into the pass-conscious Western Division. where the emphasis i s on his speciality — offense.“Don’t try to scare me so soon. he said with a chuckle “I’ve taken only a quick look at t h e Packer roster. Lombardi said, I’ll get into that when I get to Green Bay Monday.“I understand all the assistant coaches who worked with Scooter McLean are gone. That suits me fine because I d like to pick my own assistants and the Packers have given me the right to do that.”Lombardi indicated he was going ‘all out’’ to make a success of his first head coaching job. He said he was making a “complete break with New York to shift to Green Bay wdth his wife and two children.“I’m moving to Green Bay lock, stock and barrel,” he said.Vince Lombardi, whosePAC KS FOR PACKERScoaching helped the New York Giants to the National Football League top. packs in his New York hotel Wednesday after being named head coach and general manager of the badly shook up Green Bay Packers. The Packer jobwill be his first head coaching assignment above the highlt; AP Wirephoto)school level.Red Blaik.LOMBARDI worked under Blaik from 1948 until h i s move to the Giants, and had been mentioned as a possible successor to his former boss, who resigned recently. Prior to that he was freshman coach at Fordham in 1947, and spent eight years beforeOutdoor Sport Shop MovesIntoSenior League Leadthat as head coach at St. Ce-j Outdoor Sport Shop moved cilia High School at Lngel- into undisputed first place inwood, N. J. His teams won six the second round of t h e state titles. YMCA Senior League7 he Packers said the G i - Wednesday night by toppingants gave them “reluetant|Bunny Bread 64-50 whilenlopermission” ......reluctant j Bunny Bread 64-50 whileto negotiate with tel Eau Claire upset D’Tog-Lombardi. who was first ap-|gery Clothing. 77-75.proached at the N a t i o rna 1 Three teams are tied for Football League meetings in second with 2-2 records as Pe-Philadelphia last week. ters Meats dumped Dolly“We hate to lose Vince but Madison, we feel he will do a terrific game, job for the Packers. saidRay Walsh, New York’s general manager.84-63, in a thirdmargin over the Clothiersand staved off a desperatsfinal quarter rally. Etten ju«t missed tying the scoring record and throwing the game into an overtime when hetossed one up that was in andDarrell Fitch took individual scoring honors for the night by pouring in 31 points for theSnortsmpn.STANDINGSTeamOutdoor Sport Shop Bunny BreadD' Topqery ClothingHotel Eau Claire Peters '/eatsW32222IBurkiCarlson900 nr mnrp nnintlt; for fiveDolly Madison Dairies ..... t22223Pet..750500.500500.500.250SCHEDULE NEXT WEDNESDAY6 30 Dolly Mad.son Dairies vs. Bunn v R r r a d
Newspaper Details
Eau Claire Daily Telegram
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
Thu, Jan 29, 1959
Page 18
Full Page
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WI, USA 03 Jan 2023
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