SAN DIEGO, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Former Washington Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer appears to have found a new job as coach of the San Diego Chargers.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday that Schottenheimer has reached an agreement in principle with the Chargers on a four-year deal that would pay him between $4.5 million and $5 million over the first three years.
The newspaper added that offensive coordinator Norv Turner will excercise his option to get out of the final three years of his four-year contract once Schottenheimer is signed.
The 58-year-old Schottenheimer would become the team's fifth head coach in seven years, replacing Mike Riley, who was fired on New Year's Eve after going 14-34 in three seasons.
Schottenheimer apparently became the front-runner for the job two weeks ago when Bill Parcells spurned the Chargers shortly before turning down the vacancy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Washington Redskins fired Schottenheimer on January 13 with three years and $7.5 million in base salary left on his contract. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder would have to make up the difference in the new contract.
Schottenheimer was dismissed following an 8-8 season and Snyder replaced him with former University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier.
The Chargers have not had a winning season or appeared in the playoffs since 1995 and was a franchise worst 1-15 this past season. But ownership thinks Schottenheimer is the safest candidate to turn things around.
The Redskins lost their first five games under Schottenheimer this past season and many veterans referred to his practice sessions as a boot camp. But after defensive end Bruce Smith met with Schottenheimer to voice the players' displeasure, the coach modified his approach and Washington reeled off five consecutive wins to move into playoff contention.
However, the Redskins lost three of their next four games before closing the season with two wins.
Schottenheimer had been out of football for two years before taking the Redskins job. He ranks 11th all-time with 153 NFL wins but never has been to a Super Bowl and is 5-11 in the postseason. He was 101-58-1 as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989-98 and 44-27 as coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1984-88.
The 49-year-old Turner was hoping to succeed Riley in San Diego, but instead will move elsewhere. There is speculation that Turner could become the offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, unless Tampa Bay calls him about their vacancy.
