Inside The Bills

Background on coach search from Doug Whaley

It was a whirlwind six days for the Bills four-man coaching search committee and it wound up Sunday, with the decision to hire Doug Marrone.

Monday night on The John Murphy Show, one of the members of that committee shed some light on the hiring process.  Assistant General Manager Doug Whaley joined GM Buddy Nix, President and CEO Russ Brandon, and Sr. VP of Football Administration Jim Overdorf in Phoenix for the six day interview process.

Whaley says the group got busy as soon as their plane landed  in the Arizona desert last Tuesday night.

“As soon as we touched down, we had an interview scheduled for that night,” Whaley said.  “And from that night, all the way until we left, we had interviews.  One day we actually had three.  We had a breakfast interview and then an interview late at night.  That was very exhausting.”

Whaley says all four Bills officials took part in the interview process, as the team talked to five candidates during their time in Phoenix.  GM Buddy Nix took the lead role in the questioning.

“Buddy headed the whole thing,” Whaley told John Murphy.  “He leaned on us for expertise for picking up different things that came from that interview that maybe he was concentrating on the next question.  Or just different nuances—my expertise on personnel, maybe I interjected on that.  J-O (Jim Overdorf-Sr. VP of Football Administration) answered if the coach had any questions on the cap or contract negotiations.  And  Russ Brandon was there to handle stadium lease questions and the ownership situation.  So we all had our areas of expertise, but Buddy was the main focal point of the interview.”

Whaley agrees with Nix’s comments from earlier Monday, when the GM said the Bills brain trust knew they had their man the first time they met with Marrone.

“I’d have to say he was what we were looking for, and the criteria that Russ laid out before we went to Arizona,”  Whaley said on the radio show.

“It was check mark, check mark, check mark on all of those aspects.  His total package.  His background, his demeanor, his resume, and what he wants to accomplish and how he wants to accomplish it.”

The John Murphy Show airs weeknights from 7-9pm on the flagship station of the Bills,  WGR Sports Radio 550.

Report: Smith to interview on weekend

There have been some conflicting reports on when and where Lovie Smith will interview for the Bills vacant head coaching job, so take it for what it’s worth. But ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Bills will conduct their interview with Smith over the weekend, which really makes for a tight schedule for team President and CEO Russ Brandon and his search committee.

Former Bears HC Lovie Smith is expected to interview over weekend for Buffalo Bills’ head coaching position, according to multiple reports.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2013

The Bills coaching search team, which includes GM Buddy Nix, Assistant GM Doug Whaley and Sr. VP of Football Administration Jim Overdorf, is scheduled to also interview Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy this weekend. It’s been reported that Smith will interview in Buffalo, and Schefter is saying that interview will happen this weekend. Whether it’s realistic logistically remains to be seen knowing these interviews can sometimes last 4-6 hours.

Report: Kelly to meet with Bills Friday

USA Today first reported that the Bills along with the Eagles and Browns all have interviews lined up with Oregon head coach Chip Kelly after tonight’s Fiesta Bowl between Oregon and Kansas State. If a subsequent Associated Press report is correct, the Bills will have first crack at the innovative offensive coach.

According to the AP, Kelly will interview with the Bills on Friday, a day after the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. Kelly is considered on of the hotter NFL coaching candidates in the college ranks.

Bills President and CEO Russ Brandon, GM Buddy Nix, Assistant GM Doug Whaley and Sr. VP of Football Administration Jim Overdorf have all been in Arizona since Tuesday interviewing potential coaching candidates. The search committee has already interviewed former Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and current Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

Buffalo’s search committee is then expected to travel to Denver this weekend for a reported weekend interview with Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. That report also came from the Associated Press.

Report: Whisenhunt tonight, Horton Wed.

According to CBS Sports’ Jason LaCanfora, the Bills trip to Arizona was done to interview former Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt this evening with one of his assistants up next.

Per LaCanfora’s report Bills President and CEO Russ Brandon, GM Buddy Nix, Assistant GM Doug Whaley and Sr. VP of Football Administration Jim Overdorf met with Whisenhunt. They’re reportedly scheduled to interview Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton Wednesday.

Horton already interviewed for the Cardinals head coaching job today as he’s still under contract to Arizona.

It’s been also speculated that the Bills may catch up with Oregon head coach Chip Kelly as his team gets set to play in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ on Jan. 3rd.