Coach fired after 14-2 season

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired Monday night in a shocking move by team president Dean Spanos. Spanos cited a ``dysfunctional situation'' between the coach

Monday, February 12th 2007, 10:30 pm

By: News On 6

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired Monday night in a shocking move by team president Dean Spanos. Spanos cited a ``dysfunctional situation'' between the coach and general manager A.J. Smith.

The Chargers posted a 14-2 regular-season record, the best in the NFL. But a playoff loss to New England ruined all that good feeling. Spanos cited the exodus of both coordinators and other assistants in firing Schottenheimer, who had a year left on his contact. Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron became head coach of the Miami Dolphins while defensive coordinator Wade Phillips became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Schottenheimer and Smith had clashed during the season. Spanos called the relationship between those two an ``untenable situation.''

Schottenheimer has a 200-126 regular-season record, but his teams are just 5-13 in the playoffs.