SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers Monday announced the firing of Al Saunders after 2 years as head coach.
Saunders, in his first job as a head coach, ran up a 16-22 record after taking over for Don Coryell midway through the 1986 season.
Newspaper reports last week said the decision had been made prior to Sunday's win over Kansas City in the last game of the season.
The Chargers won four of their last six games to finish 6-10, somewhat better than had been forecast in the media during the preseason. Nevertheless, team owner Alex Spanos made the move that had been anticipated for a while.
'We feel at this time it is necessary to make a change in the head coaching position,' Spanos said in a written statement. 'We wish Al well and a search for a successor will begin immediately.'
Saunders was promoted to assistant head coach in 1985 by Spanos, a move that many observers believe greased the skids for the venerable Coryell. Saunders then became the NFL's youngest head coach at the age of 39.
The apparent dislike between Saunders and another Spanos man, Director of Football Operations Steve Ortmayer, resulted in friction that Spanos settled by removing Saunders.
'Steve knows what is needed and will be in charge of finding the right person,' Spanos said in his release.
Saunders, who was not immediately available for comment Monday, had frequently pointed out while the Chargers were slipping to 2-8 that he had a young team trying to learn a new offense with a new quarterback and season-ending injuries to three veteran starters on the offensive line.
The Chargers also had to face the unexpected trade of tackle Jim Lachey and retirement of tight end Kellen Winslow, and the failure of linebacker Chip Banks to report for duty.
The Chargers said there was no deadline for finding a new coach.
A statement from Ortmayer said that no assistants would be fired pending the hiring of a new coach.
'A degree of continuity at this point is a definite consideration,' Ortmayer said. 'We have coaches on this staff that a new coach would be comfortable with.'
