Coughlin to lead Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Eleven years after they first courted him, the New York Giants finally introduced Tom Coughlin as their coach.\n"It really struck me from an emotional standpoint how very deep my emotions go toward this position and this particular franchise," Coughlin said at a news conference Wednesday, a day after signing a four-year, $12 million contract.\nCoughlin succeeds Jim Fassel, who was fired following a season that began with Super Bowl expectations and ended with the team's worst season (4-12) in two decades.\nA former Giants receivers coach under Bill Parcells, Coughlin promised to bring back the brand of football that led New York to two Super Bowls under his mentor.\n"What we must be all about now is the restoration of pride, of self pride, of team pride, the restoration of our professionalism and the dignity with which we conduct our business," the 57-year-old Coughlin said.\n"We must restore our belief in the process by which we will win, and we must replace despair with hope and return the energy and passion to New York Giants football," the former Jacksonville Jaguars coach said.\nA no-nonsense coach, Coughlin said the Giants must eliminate turnovers and costly penalties, which hurt the team badly last season.\n"I believe the young men who represent the New York Giants want strong leadership," Coughlin said. "They want clear and stated objectives. They want superb detail and organization and discipline, which provides us all with the confidence to win."\nJohn Mara, the Giants' executive vice president, was convinced Coughlin was the right man for the job after his second interview on Monday.\n"We like what his vision is, what his football philosophy is," John Mara said. "We like the passion he brings to the game. I go back to the old (former Giants general manager) George Young attitude in looking for a head coach -- you want someone with a high energy level and with something to prove."\nCoughlin has both. The energy level was obvious in the strength of his voice and the determination with which he spoke. It was almost as if this was a talk at a team meeting.\nHe also has something to prove after being fired after the 2002 season, his third straight in Jacksonville. He had a 72-64 record in eight seasons with the Jaguars, twice leading them to the AFC title game.\nCoughlin stressed the key to winning is at the line of scrimmage.\nCenter Chris Bober thought Coughlin would be a good fit after a mistake- and injury-marred season.\n"I heard he likes to run a ball-control, smash-mouth style of football and, as a lineman, that's exciting," said Bober, who is eligible to become a free agent in March. "I hope I can be a part of it."\nThe Giants finished the season with an eight-game losing streak, but the downward spiral started early in the season, when New York gave away wins against Dallas and Philadelphia with last-minute mistakes.\n"The hiring of coach Coughlin signals a new chapter for the Giants and for my career," defensive end Michael Strahan said. "I'm already looking forward to getting ready for next season and working to reach the goal we've set for the team of winning a championship."\nCoughlin was the only candidate granted a second interview for the opening created when Fassel was fired Dec. 17. Fassel was allowed to coach the final two games.\nNew England Patriots coordinators Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis and St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith also were interviewed.\nCrennel and Smith are black, and the Giants have never had a black head coach. Of the last 11 Giants coaches, eight have been former assistants with the team.\nThe Giants offered Coughlin their head coaching job in 1993 after firing Ray Handley. Coughlin turned it down, saying he wanted to complete a rebuilding program he started at Boston College.\nCoughlin said he's changed a little in his year away from football and is willing to accept not having total control off the field.\nLongtime Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell recently said his experience with Coughlin wasn't all that bad. The two frequently were at odds.\n"He was a tough coach, a demanding coach, but he knew what he wanted," Brunell said. "And his bottom line was always figuring out a way to win"