Charger Owner Fires Bass, Names New Defensive Chief

Saying his patience was at an end, San Diego Charger owner Alex Spanos on Tuesday fired defensive coordinator Tom Bass, who had presided over the National Football League’s worst defense.

Bass, 50, was replaced by Dave Adolph, 48, who joined the Charger staff as an assistant coach in March after six years with Cleveland, where he served as a defensive line coach and linebacking coach before becoming the Browns’ defensive coordinator midway through the 1984 season.

The Browns led the American Football Conference in total defense last year and were rated first in the league against the pass.

After four games, the Charger defense is rated last in the league, giving up an average of 458 yards a game. In the past three games, the San Diego defense has given up 111 points, an average of 37 points a game.

“I just didn’t want to have to keep waiting week after week (for defensive improvement),” Spanos said. “I felt that this was going to persist. I just felt that, hey, there’s no sense prolonging it. Let’s get done what has to be done, and if there’s a way of improving the position, let’s go ahead and do it.”

Spanos said that firing Bass was not easy. Bass, a linebacker at San Jose State before he was forced to give up his playing career after being stricken by polio in 1955, was well-liked by San Diego players and coaches.

“I’m sorry it had to happen,” Spanos said. “It’s not an easy task to do, but it had to be done. It’s never easy. I just had to better the defense whatever way I can.”

Bass, who formerly coached with Tampa Bay, declined through a Charger spokesman to talk with reporters.

Charger Coach Don Coryell obviously was upset by the firing of Bass.

“I don’t wish to discuss private things, particularly with Tom being a very close friend,” Coryell said. “I know there will be lots of questions about Tom, but as I mentioned, I would rather not discuss it with anyone.”