Criner tabbed as LV coach

Steve Addy

Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000 | 10:26 a.m.

The XFL is hoping to lure younger fans by being radical, extreme, in-your-face and (insert favorite Generation X buzzword here).

But the Las Vegas team will begin that mission with a couple of old-school football guys.

Confirming last week's story in the Sun, the XFL today announced the hiring of 61-year-old Bob Ackles as general manager and 60-year-old Jim Criner as head coach of Las Vegas' entry in the eight-team league.

The player personnel director also was to be announced this morning.

Ackles, leaving his post as the Miami Dolphins' director of football operations, spent 14 years in NFL front offices after 11 seasons as GM of the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. He helped build the Dallas Cowboys into Super Bowl champions in 1992 and '93.

Criner spent the last six years coaching the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe, leading the team to the 1996 World Bowl title and the runner-up spot this year. The ex-Iowa State coach guided the Glasgow-based franchise to a 26-35 record since 1995.

The XFL, a joint venture of WWF Entertainment and NBC-TV, will begin its first season February 3. The league will play a 10-game regular season, and Las Vegas' home games will be at Sam Boyd Stadium. (Ticket information is available by calling (877) XFL-GAME.)

All of the XFL franchises are owned by the league, with the other teams placed in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, Orlando, Memphis and Birmingham, Ala. Team nicknames will be assigned in September, and player allocation will occur in October.

Though the XFL is aiming for a younger demographic with WWF-style antics, hiring old hands like Ackles and Criner seems designed to put the Las Vegas club on firm ground football-wise, as opposed to a "name" hire like Chicago coach Dick Butkus. The XFL seemingly recognizes that neon-jaded Las Vegans won't be easily dazzled by gimmicks and glitz, but that they might support a solidly built, winning team.

Attempts to reach Ackles and Criner were unsuccessful Wednesday, but Criner's resignation from the Claymores was posted on NFL Europe's official website.

"This wasn't an easy decision for me," Criner said. "It was the hardest of my (37-year) coaching career, but it was time for me to make this decision which will hopefully benefit the Claymores and myself."

In the 2000 World Bowl June 26, Criner's club lost to the Rhein Fire 13-10. Criner coached the Claymores to the 1996 championship with a 32-27 win over Frankfurt and was named World League coach of the year.

Claymores GM Will Wilson said, "We wish Jim every success and we're tremendously sorry to see him go."

After serving as an assistant at five schools, including Utah, UCLA and BYU, Criner became Boise State head coach in 1976 and turned the Broncos into a Division I-AA power. They won four Big Sky titles in seven seasons and the 1980 national championship. At Iowa State, he compiled a 17-25-2 record from 1983-86.

Ackles had been Miami's director of football operations since 1996, but reports there said his authority was diminished this year when the club hired Rick Spielman as vice president of player personnel.

Ackles has worked for four NFL teams, moving from the CFL to the Cowboys in 1986. He spent six seasons as the Cowboys' vice president of player personnel and was instrumental in the drafting of Michael Irvin (1988), Troy Aikman ('89) and Emmitt Smith ('90).

Ackles also served as the Arizona Cardinals assistant GM from 1992-95 and the Philadelphia Eagles' director of administration from 1995-96. He spent 32 years with British Columbia of the CFL, starting as water boy in 1955 and becoming general manager from 1975-85.