By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer
Mark Davis has been down this road before.
He installed an assistant coach as an interim head coach, who motivated Raiders players quite well.
Just two years ago, the Raiders owner named Rich Bisaccia to replace a disgraced Jon Gruden and the Raiders players ran through walls for the interim coach. Bisaccia led the Raiders all the way to the playoffs, in fact, during the 2021 season.
Now, Davis faces the question of whether to hire another interim coach. Antonio Pierce, as the permanent head man. The former Raiders linebackers coach has guided the Silver & Black to four wins in seven games since taking over for a fired Josh McDaniels.
It’s unlikely the Raiders will qualify for the playoffs, though the team is technically still alive for a postseason spot.
But Pierce was clearly and visibly emotional after the Raiders defeated the defending NFL title holders, the Kansas City Chiefs, on the road Sunday by a score of 20-14.
What will Davis do this time?
Hire someone from an NFL team who won multiple Super Bowls like McDaniels over naming Bissacia as the permanent coach?
Or install Pierce as official head coach and scrap Pierce’s “interim” title?
The business world is filled with these hiring issues all the time.
Does the CEO hire a head guy with a resume with gaudy achievements like winning NFL championships as McDaniels did?
Or does the CEO promote a popular middle manager who has intense passion and has the intangibles to motivate workers.
After the Raiders’ win Christmas Day, there were calls in the media for Davis to make Pierce the permanent head coach.
McDaniels was known for his rigid ways and failure to connect with players.
Pierce has the reputation of being a players’ coach, of connecting with players in ways that McDaniels could not.
The body language between the two was evidently different.
It’s common for Pierce to go player to player, sharing a word and handshake slap.
Even on the Raiders’ bye week Pierce was at a UNLV game to wish Rebels head coach Barry Odom well.
In 2021, Davis picked the coach with the championships on his resume.
This time, he can pick Pierce — and still choose a candidate with a Super Bowl win on his work resume. Don’t forget, Pierce was a linebacker on the New York Giants, which upset McDaniels’ Patriots in a Super Bowl.
LVSportsBiz.com forecast: Davis picks Pierce to be the Raiders’ permanent coach for the 2024 season.