Greg Garber, Senior Writer 13y

Jerry Glanville to coach UFL team

NFL

Jerry Glanville was named the coach of the United Football League's Hartford Colonials on Monday.

UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said that bringing in Glanville is part of the league's strategy to hire coaches who "have a winning pedigree and are household names."

The 69-year-old Glanville joins Jim Fassel in Las Vegas and Dennis Green in Sacramento as UFL coaches who had previously worked in the NFL.

"You do what you love," Glanville said Sunday before Monday's official announcement. "The best part of this deal is watching players get better. That's what it's all about. If I was feeling any better, they'd have to send me to jail."

Glanville, who was 63-73 as an NFL coach, succeeds Chris Palmer who led Hartford to a 3-5 record in 2010, then left in February to become offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.

Glanville coached in the NFL for nine seasons, spending five seasons with the Houston Oilers and four with the Atlanta Falcons.

His most recent football job was at Portland State, where he went 9-24 from 2007-09.

Glanville said he first discussed a job with league management, including Huyghue, a year ago. When Palmer departed for the Titans, Glanville interviewed with Colonials owner Bill Mayer and his son last week and liked what he saw.

"I was so impressed," Glanville said. "I got real excited when I interviewed with [Buffalo Bills owner] Ralph Wilson [for the defensive coordinator's position] and [Oilers owner] Bud Adams. I saw the same grit and determination in their eyes. I came away thinking, 'How would you not want to work with these guys?' "

The UFL lost nearly $80 million in its first two seasons of existence. As of a few weeks ago, the league still owed creditors roughly $5 million, raising questions about the league's viability in 2011.

"Oh, we're going to have a third season," Glanville insisted. "I can assure you of that."

For Glanville, another opportunity to coach was irresistible.

"I've made mistakes in the past," he said. "I've gone where the money was. Over time, you learn what's important. You do what you're born to do. Preachers preach, coaches coach."

Greg Garber is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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