Vikings hire Frazier as permanent head coach
The Minnesota Vikings have reached an agreement with Leslie Frazier to be their next coach.
The Vikings announced Monday they're removing the interim tag from Frazier's title. Frazier, 51, took over on Nov. 22 when Brad Childress was fired, and the Vikings went 3-3 under Frazier after a 3-7 start.
The defensive coordinator under Childress and a former cornerback for the Bears, Frazier drew positive reviews from the players for his steady approach. They've pushed for him to get the job on a permanent basis, after many of them grew frustrated with Childress and his rigid style.
Frazier is the eighth coach in the franchise's 50-year history.
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"Our players and entire organization have great respect for Leslie," owner Zygi Wilf said in a statement released by the team. "He has a vast knowledge of the game, both as a former player and as a coach, and he has a terrific way with those who play for him and work with him."
Already mired in a mess of a season that started with a Super Bowl-or-bust goal, the Vikings lost quarterback Brett Favre to a shoulder injury on Dec. 5. Then, the roof of their domed stadium collapsed a week later; they had back-to-back home games moved; and their scheduled Dec. 26 game at Philadelphia was pushed back two days by a snowstorm.
"He's a great leader. He's a player's coach, and he's somebody people would like playing for," wide receiver Percy Harvin said before the news became official.
Childress hired Frazier to run the defense in 2007 after Mike Tomlin left to become Pittsburgh's coach and later appointed him assistant head coach. Frazier has interviewed for seven coaching vacancies over the past three years.
"I like obviously playing for him," said linebacker Chad Greenway, one of several key players whose contracts are expiring. "I've played for him every year I've been the starter here. If he's going to be here, that's obviously a good thing on the comfort level."
Frazier addressed the players in a season-ending meeting on Monday morning.
"He's always seemed like a head coach ever since he took over that role," left tackle Bryant McKinnie said. "He knows how to talk to you, and he respects you."
Frazier has been coaching in the NFL since 1999. He's been an assistant with Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. The native of Columbus, Mo., played at Alcorn State and broke in with the Bears in 1981.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
