| | Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jim Skipper, the New York Giants
assistant head coach, left the team two weeks before the start of
the NFL season to take the head coaching position with the Memphis
franchise of the new XFL.
"Jim Skipper has been my closest professional friend over the
last five years," Giants coach Jim Fassel said in a statement
early Thursday. "He has been a valuable member of my staff. This
is an opportunity Jim felt like he couldn't pass up, and I wish him
the best."
The departure ends a five-year working relationship between the
men, and it comes less than a year after Fassel took away the
offensive coordinator's job from Skipper and gave it to Sean
Payton.
Skipper was promoted to assistant head coach and he was still in
charge of working with the running backs as he has always been, but
the 36-year-old Payton was calling the plays.
Skipper was not immediately available for comment.
The Giants have missed the playoffs the last two seasons,
putting Fassel in the position of needing a good season to save his
job.
With Skipper's departure, three coaches have left the team since
the end of last season for other positions. Linebackers coach Mike
Haluchak, Fassel's longtime friend, took a job with Rams, and tight
ends coach Dick Rehbein joined Bill Belichick's staff at New
England.
After starting his coaching career in the high school ranks in
1973, Skipper reached the pro ranks with the Stars of the USFL from
1883-85. He spent 10 seasons as the New Orleans Saints running
backs coach before joining the Arizona Cardinals in 1996, where he
worked with Fassel. When Fassel got the Giants head coaching job,
Skipped followed as his offensive coordinator.
Offensive quality control coach Mike Gillhamer, a former Rutgers
assistant who joined the Giants in 1997, was promoted to running
backs coach. He has worked with the running backs, offensive line
and kick returners in addition to game preparation.
Charles Way, the one-time fullback who took a job as director of
player programs after retiring earlier this year, will help
Gillhamer.
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