UFL: Jagodzinski to coach Omaha's expansion football team

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If the head coach of the new Omaha franchise in the United Football League needs a sideline pass to a Nebraska football game, he knows who to call.

Jeff Jagodzinski's 25 years as a college and pro coach include a five-season stretch with the Green Bay Packers from 1999 to 2003.

One of his fellow assistants there was current Husker coach Bo Pelini.

The men worked together. Their wives socialized together. Their children played at each other's houses. And the first time Pelini moved to Nebraska — in 2003 to become defensive coordinator — the Jagodzinskis took a table the Pelinis didn't want to transport.

“We had a lot of fun together,'' Jagodzinski said. “And let me tell you something: That guy is a good football coach. I'm talking about good.

“I've got Bo's number, but I haven't called him yet. I don't think he knows I got this job. But I look forward to talking to him.''

Jagodzinski, a 46-year-old native of Milwaukee, also is looking forward to being back on the sidelines after a wild 2009 that saw him lose two jobs.

A year ago January, Boston College fired Jagodzinski after a two-year record of 20-8. Why? He interviewed for the New York Jets' head coaching job after his athletic director warned him not to.

The Jets didn't hire Jagodzinski, but three weeks later he became the offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Then last September, about a week before the start of the regular season, the Bucs dismissed Jagodzinski. He was offered the quarterbacks coach job, but declined.

ESPN.com quoted an unnamed Tampa Bay team source as saying, “This guy was better suited to be a head coach than a coordinator.''

The fire to get back in the game shone in Jagodzinski's eyes during a World-Herald interview.

“This is what I do,'' he said, leaning across the table. “This is what I've been doing my whole life. Getting an opportunity to run a team again is great.''

Doing it in football-mad Nebraska adds to Jagodzinski's passion.

“I love that I'm going to be in a football community, state and part of the country where they ‘get it,' '' he said. “That's really, really important to me.

“I'm a Midwest guy. My dad was a cop. My mom was a teacher. I think I can really relate to Nebraska people. I grew up in a house just like the one that people who will come to our games live in.''

Jagodzinski said the Omaha team naturally will look at players with Nebraska and area connections in building a roster.

But there won't be any gift spots. Not with a caliber of play high enough that more than 30 of the UFL's 208 players moved up to the NFL last season.

“One thing about this league, these players will be hungry,'' Jagodzinski said. “The average age is 27. A lot times this is it for these guys, so you're going to get supreme effort and passion.''

The Omaha team's specific style of play will depend on the personnel acquired through an expansion draft and tryout camps.

“But we're going to be a tough, physical team,'' Jagodzinski said. “That's what you think of when you think of Nebraska people. We're going to be a downhill running football team, with heavy play-action.

“And it will be with high energy and high tempo. Or they won't be here.''

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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