From the archives: Leon's stunner: Rich in for Pete

This story was originally published in Newsday on Jan. 6, 1995.

This time, Leon Hess did the dirty work himself. In Steinbrenner-like fashion, the reclusive owner fired Pete Carroll Wednesday night after only one season, replaced him with former Eagles coach Rich Kotite and - in perhaps the most stunning development - made a rare public appearance yesterday to introduce Kotite and explain his bombshell.

"I'm 80 years old. I want results now. I've waited for 25 years," a sun-tanned Hess said emphatically in his first news conference since 1988, only the second in his life.

After more than two decades of minding his own business, Hess finally decided to mind his business. Disgusted and alarmed by the team's latest late-season collapse, Hess decided to act unilaterally, overstepping general manager Dick Steinberg, who had every intention of keeping Carroll.

Steinberg, diagnosed recently with a treatable form of stomach cancer, was retained as the GM, but he will have a diminished role in what now appears to be a muddled front-office situation.

Kotite, a former Jets assistant who was fired Dec. 26 after posting a 37-29 record in four seasons with the Eagles, is now "the head of the New York Jets family," said Hess, who first contacted Kotite Dec. 26 and offered him the job four days ago.

Hess said he decided to make a coaching change with "three or four games" remaining in the season. The Jets, on the verge of moving into a first-place tie on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, blew an 18-point lead to the Dolphins to start a five-game losing streak. They finished 6-10, their sixth consecutive non-winning season.

"The players, in my opinion, had the potential to go much further than they went," Hess said.

In perhaps his most telling remark of the day, the owner said, "The Jets family doesn't quit," an obvious reference to the feeble effort in the season-ending, 24-10 loss to the 2-14 Oilers.

The 52-year-old Kotite, a disciple of Joe Walton who served on the Jets' staff from 1983-89, didn't exactly have a banner finish himself. The Eagles jumped to a 7-2 start, but closed with a seven-game losing streak. To no one's surprise, Kotite was fired by new owner Jeffrey Lurie.

Kotite, a Brooklyn native, called his homecoming a "dream come true . . . For some reason, I feel it in my bones, the timing is right for this."

Hess, unfazed by Kotite's difficult season, signed him to a three-year contract.

"The buck stops with me," Hess said. "I'm just one of those fans who has been disappointed for 25 years. Let's make a change. If it's wrong, it's my fault. But at least I'm doing something for the fans, and trying to do something for myself at 80. I'm entitled to some enjoyment from this team, and that means winning."

Carroll, who became the third Jets head coach fired in five years, was blindsided when told the news in a face-to-face meeting Wednesday night with Hess. Hess described Carroll as being "shocked."

The classy Carroll, in a conference call with reporters, didn't express any bitterness, but he believes he deserved at least another season to fix the mess.

"I was caught off-guard a little bit," Carroll said of his meeting with Hess. "I thought he'd talk about the overall situation first, but he went right into making the change."

Carroll will be paid for the remaining three years on his contract. His assistant coaches haven't been fired, but it's unlikely they will be retained by Kotite.

It was Steinberg, not Carroll, who appeared in the most immediate danger of being fired. Two days after the season, Steinberg - 32-49 in five seasons - said he would "fully anticipate" Carroll's return. On the same day, in Philadelphia, Kotite was canned by Lurie.

Hess was vacationing in the Bahamas at the time. He was relaxing in the sun at 4 p.m. when he was told by his daughter that Kotite had been fired. It was hardly shocking news, but Hess said it was an "eerie feeling. I went inside, turned on the TV and I saw a picture of Rich Kotite being fired."

Hess phoned Jets president Steve Gutman, and asked for Kotite's number. That same day, he called Kotite to let him know he was interested in talking. Hess knew Kotite had an interview scheduled with the expansion Carolina Panthers.

Recalling the conversation, Hess said: "I called Rich and said, 'Please don't do anything. Wait until I come home, or I'll come home tomorrow if you want to do something.' He said he'd wait."

They met Monday, and Hess offered the job. Hess said he never contacted former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson.

When Kotite received the initial call from Hess, only four hours after he was fired in Philly, he thought it was a prank call.

"I thought it was someone pretending to be him," Kotite said, smiling. "But, when the operator said it was the overseas Hess operator, I knew it was the real thing."

What if Kotite hadn't been available? Hess said he would have fired Carroll anyway.

Steinberg, who hired Bruce Coslet five years ago and replaced him with Carroll last January, was kept in the dark about Kotite. Steinberg expected to relinquish some of his duties because of his illness, but now it appears he has lost his clout in the organization.

"I'm comfortable [with my role], no matter what the parameters are," said Steinberg, who appeared uncomfortable at the news conference, almost out of place. "The owner owns the football, and he calls the shots . . . I just want to fit in and contribute to these guys, and to Richie, any way I can. When I'm here, which I hope to be frequently, I'll be able to do whatever they want me to do to get us back on the winning track."

Hess said he didn't consult Steinberg, 59, because, "I have a GM who's under the weather, and I didn't want to put this burden on his shoulders."

The hiring of Kotite could be perceived, from a symbolic standpoint, as recycling an old Jets assistant who went down with the Walton regime.

"That was five years ago," Kotite said. "That's stretching the word 'holdover.' "

Kotite, who replaced the bombastic but popular Buddy Ryan in 1991, went 10-6, 11-5, 8-8 and 7-9 in four stormy seasons. He made the playoffs once, advancing to the second round in 1992. Asked about the '94 disaster, Kotite said, "I think I'm being judged by Mr. Hess on what I did in four seasons."

Now all he has to do is win, baby - and now. Hess isn't the patient boss he used to be.