Browns deny Rice on head coach wish list
It has come to this with the Cleveland Browns.
The NFL club’s GM on Sunday morning had to issue a politely worded statement that its next head coach probably won’t be former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
ESPN reported hours earlier that Rice “is on the team’s wish list to interview” for the job.
The Browns fired head coach Hue Jackson nearly three weeks ago. Gregg Williams is interim head coach for the duration of the 2018 season.
A woman has yet to interview for any NFL head coaching job. The Buffalo Bills hired the first full-time female assistant coach in 2016, Kathryn Smith. She served as special teams quality control coach.
The Browns issued the following statement from GM John Dorsey:
“Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a great leader, possesses the highest possible character and also happens to be a Browns fan. I have the utmost respect and admiration for all she’s accomplished and was honoured to meet her for the first time earlier this season.
“Our coaching search will be thorough and deliberate, but we are still in the process of composing the list of candidates and Secretary Rice has not been discussed.”
On Sunday afternoon Rice — indeed a huge Browns fan — posted a message on Facebook denying interest in becoming an NFL coach, which read, in part:
“I do hope that the NFL will start to bring women into the coaching profession as position coaches and eventually coordinators and head coaches. One doesn’t have to play the game to understand it and motivate players. But experience counts — and it is time to develop a pool of experienced women coaches.
“BTW — I’m not ready to coach but I would like to call a play or two next season if the Browns need ideas! And at no time will I call for a ‘prevent defence.’”