Gladiators put White on coach wish list

Adam Candee

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004 | 10:09 a.m.

The Las Vegas Gladiators are in contact with former Arizona head coach Danny White about their head coaching vacancy.

White is among a handful of candidates with whom the team has had preliminary conversation about replacing Frank Haege. The Gladiators abruptly fired Haege on Wednesday after three seasons at the helm of the team, including this past season's 8-8 finish.

Arizona let go of White a week before Haege's dismissal, leading to speculation that the Gladiators made their move with an eye toward luring White to Las Vegas. Gladiators general manager Dan Dolby denied that White's availability affected the team's decision to fire Haege, who compiled a 25-21 record and led the team to two playoff berths.

White coached the Rattlers for 13 years, winning two ArenaBowl titles and advancing to the league championship games five times. Arizona's new ownership group passed on bringing back White and is rumored to be hot after New York coach Todd Shell.

Dolby has also been in contact with Sparky McEwen, who served as offensive coordinator for Gladiators quarterback Clint Dolezel while the two were in Grand Rapids. According to the Grand Rapids Press, Dolezel is lobbying Dolby to consider McEwen for the Las Vegas job.

"Once I found out the organization had fired Haege, I made a call to say McEwen should be a candidate for the job here," Dolezel told the Press. "And I think there is a good possibility he will come in for an interview.'"

McEwen also sounds interested in joining Dolezel in Las Vegas.

"I'm aware of the Las Vegas situation and I know I'm a candidate for the head-coaching job there," McEwen told the Press. "Given the fact Clint Dolezel is there, one of the best in the AFL and one I had great success with during my three coaching seasons in Grand Rapids, possibly being re-united with him is intriguing."

Gladiators assistant coaches Ron James and Stan Davis are also under consideration for the head job. Both received one-year contract extensions after Haege was fired.

Dolby plans to conduct in-person interviews with finalists during the week of Aug. 15. Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro will be in Las Vegas at that time for the Arena Football League board of directors meeting, scheduled for Aug. 17.

The team plans to have a new coach in place before Sept. 1 -- the beginning of the league's free-agent signing period.