Dec. 18, 1964 - Sammy Baugh (pictured last year) resigned today as head coach of the AFL’s Houston Oilers effective after Sunday’s final game. His job interfered with his ranching operations in West Texas, he said.
The 50‐year‐old Baugh said he was open to offers as an assistant coach — with the Oilers, or anyone else — but that a head coaching job demanded full‐time attention, and he could not spare that much time from the operation of his 6,335‐acre ranch spread.
Although Baugh’s first season at the Oilers helm has been far from successful (Houston is 3–10 going into its final game against Denver Sunday), his resignation came as a surprise.
He recently had been given a vote of confidence and a new one‐year contract by K. S. (Bud) Adams Jr., owner of the Oilers.
Baugh told a news conference he and Adams had reached a settlement on that contract, but he declined to give any details of the settlement. Adams said that Baugh’s resignation had been accepted and that the club would launch an immediate search for a new coach.
Baugh said he had made up his mind to quit only a week ago.
“I still love football and intend to stay in it,” Baugh said. “I would like to have a backfield coaching job anywhere.”
Baugh emphasized that the club’s poor record had nothing to do with his decision and that he would be happy to stay on the Oiler staff as long as he could spend more time at his ranch near Rotan, Tex.
Baugh has been outwardly enthusiastic over the Houston club’s future. The Oilers recently signed Baylor’s great receiver, Lawrence Elkins, and are believed to have the inside track on signing Jerry Rhome, the star Tulsa passer.
Rhome had played under Baugh at Tulsa, and Baugh’s departure might lessen the Oilers’ chances of beating out the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL in the battle for Rhome’s signature.
Baugh, who became the Oilers’ fourth head coach in five years when he succeeded Frank (Pop) Ivy after last season, was an all-America quarterback at Texas Christian and an all‐pro for many of his 16 seasons with Washington in the NFL. Baugh had served for a year as coach of another AFL team, the New York Titans, now known as the Jets.
“I have been treated very fairly here,” Baugh said, “but I have a ranch that I would like to spend at least half the year on. I can’t give the Oilers as much of my service as I think I should if I go to the ranch as much as I like.”
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