AP Class In Session: Raiders Owner Mark Davis Names Antonio Pierce As Permanent Head Coach After AP Served As Interim For Nine Games

 

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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer

Expect to see a candy apply 1964 Chevy Impala rolling on the streets around Allegiant Stadium.

Raiders owner Mark Davis has removed the “interim” from Antonio Pierce’s coach title, making it official that the former New York Giants linebacker and Super Bowl champ is now the permanent coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Pierce drives a 1964 Chevy Impala, a car commonly seen in the Allegiant Stadium garage after he went from linebackers coach to interim coach after Josh McDaniels was fired Halloween night.

Pierce’s infectious, outgoing enthusiasm and emotional connections to Raiders players translated into winning five of nine games after the 45-year-old Long Beach, California native took over the coaching reins from McDaniels.

After the 2021 season, Davis had hired McDaniels instead of promoting interim coach Rich Bisaccia to permanent coach after Bisaccia led the Raiders into the playoffs following the resignation of previous coach Jon Gruden that year. The Raiders have appeared in the playoffs only twice in more than two decades.

This time, Davis stuck with his interim coach, an undrafted free agent who signed with Washington in 2001 before signing with the New York Giants in 2005. Pierce, a married father of seven, was a Pro Bowler in 2006 and a Super Bowl 42 winner with the Giants.

In response to an LVSportsBiz.com question near the end of the season, Pierce said his coaching resume “is on the grass” and he took pride in winning four of six division games, including a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs in Kansas City on Christmas Day.

Pierce also made an effort to connect with the Las Vegas community, showing up to hug UNLV football coach Barry Odom before a UNLV game during the Raiders’ bye week to appearing at the Martin Luther King Day Parade in downtown Las Vegas.

He was personable with the media, answering questions about games in non-coachspeak — a big difference from McDaniels, who was polite but predictable in his comments about the Raiders. McDaniels won only three of eight games before Pierce went five wins with four losses. The Raiders defense — long a weak spot for the team — came alive and played well under Pierce.

LVSportsBiz.com asked Pierce about players who came to life under his coaching but were not achieving under McDaniels:

At 45 years old, Pierce exudes a youthful demeanor, winning over the Silver & Black faithful with his “Raiders” yells. He was an Arizona State defensive coach for five years from 2016-21 before becoming the Raiders linebackers coach in 2022.

He unleashed such a “Raiders” scream to end his final presser of the season.

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