Coaching Staff update

[SFREDSKIN]

Redskins, Chris Meidt part ways

Two years ago at this time, Chris Meidt was an obscure Division III head coach at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. When Jim Zorn, then the new coach of the Washington Redskins and a man whom Meidt had met at several coaching clinics, called to offer him an assistant's job in the NFL, Meidt jumped.

"I loved everything about the last two years," Meidt said Tuesday. "We absolutely loved it. I would not trade the last two years for anything."

Meidt, 40, was informed Tuesday morning by new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan that he would not be on the staff. Matt LaFleur, an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans, is expected to be named to the Redskins' staff within the next couple of days. LaFleur's relationship with the incoming offensive coordinator, former Texans' coordinator Kyle Shanahan, meant Meidt understood the decision.

"Kyle has to be comfortable with a person he's worked with, someone he already has a relationship with," Meidt said. "I've been a head coach. I understand the staff dynamics."

Meidt worked closely with quarterback Jason Campbell over the past two years, and he helped devise the intricate play-calling system - which involved a color-coded system on Campbell's wrist - when Zorn lost his play-calling duties in October and was replaced by consultant Sherman Lewis. Meidt felt his interviews with both Shanahans went well - "I think if he was starting a staff from scratch, I'd have a great chance," he said - and he leaves believing Shanahan will recommend him for jobs elsewhere.

"I'm wide open," Meidt said. "We're ready for everything. The Lord led us here, and He'll lead us to the next step. If it's a college coordinator's job, that'd be great. If it's a quarterbacks job in the NFL, I would love it. I know I'm a better coach because of this whole experience."