JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars fans lined up at the gates by the Gallagher Club and stretched back hundreds of feet, anxiously awaiting the start of a hastily arranged event to celebrate new head coach Liam Coen.
Even in the weeks after the finish of a dismal, injury-marred 4-13 season, Jacksonville fans showed up in force to celebrate the hiring of Coen.
After the gates opened and fans made their way upstairs, the sounds of a band filled the club and wafted out into the stadium. It was a festive atmosphere on Thursday night at EverBank Stadium, the sounds of Duuuval and discounted food and merch dressing up a cool evening in town.
“We’re hitting the ground running really is what it comes down to trying to hire the best staff possible put these players in the best position to be successful and it starts there,” Coen said.
Coen’s first “Duuuval” during his press conference sounded a bit, how do we say it, avant-garde, not nearly as deep and robust as it’s been channeled by Jaguars fans for years. When Coen got a redo with News4JAX sports anchor Jamal St. Cyr after his press conference, Coen’s redone Duuuval sounded far more like a natural Duuuval. Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli said he got a kick out of Coen’s original “Duuuval,” which was a little wavy and chic.
“It was a little impromptu, put his own flavor on it. I’m good with it. The normal Duuuval’s not going anywhere but it was fun,” Boselli said. “I don’t think I could replicate it. I don’t think I could pull it off.”
It capped a wild week for Coen, who agreed to terms with the Jaguars late on the night of Jan. 23 and was introduced to fans on Monday.
Coen thanked the fans multiple times and said he is in the best position possible to be able to live out his dream.
“This was my dream. … This is the dream. So pride, that’s what we’re going to bring to this thing,” Coen said.
Boselli, in his first public comments since owner Shad Khan said he expected there to be a role for the Jaguars icon in the front office, said there was no anxiety or nerves the morning Coen reportedly withdrew from the coaching search.
“I don’t think there was nervousness … sometimes what is viewed from the outside is chaos and what’s going on isn’t always what’s happening behind the scenes,” Boselli said. “I think the one thing I saw and experienced and I’ve seen it throughout my time since Shad’s been the owner, sometimes very close, sometimes from a distance, he does a great job of managing the situation. There’s a reason he’s been successful as he has in life. He was very clear, very concise on how we were going to do this and the plan to move forward was.”
Hours after Coen pulled his name from the coaching search, Khan fired general manager Trent Baalke and re-engaged Coen about the position. A little over a day later, Coen agreed to become the team’s head coach.
“I think the culture that he brings in is what really resonated with me because that’s how I think things should be done as well, and so I’m excited for it,” Boselli said. “So I think it’s, ‘here we go.’ It’s step one.”