Chargers Hire Gibbs, Reilly to Aid on Offense

General Manager Bobby Beathard said Thursday that the Chargers have completed the overhaul of their coaching staff with the addition of two assistants on offense.

Alex Gibbs, the last holdover from the Raider staff of fired Coach Mike Shanahan, was hired to coach the offensive line. And Jack Reilly, former offensive coordinator at the University of Utah, was added as an offensive assistant.

Gibbs, 48, served as offensive line coach of the Raiders for two seasons after four in the same capacity with the Denver Broncos. He previously was a college assistant for 13 seasons. He replaces Larry Beightol, who was fired several weeks ago after one season with the Chargers.

Reilly, 44, served five seasons at Utah under Coach Jim Fassel but was fired along with Fassel at the end of last season. Reilly has been assigned no particular position but will work along with Coach Dan Henning and the offensive staff, the Chargers said. Reilly previously coached five seasons at El Camino College and 12 at Beverly Hills High School.

Beathard has added two players to the list of unprotected Plan B free agents whose time with the team is over.

Beathard said cornerback Roy Bennett and tight end Mark Walczak will not be invited to rejoin the team, even if no other team signs them before the end of the Plan B signing period April 1.

Bennett, a free agent from Jackson State, was used primarily as a nickel back. He played two seasons with the Chargers after three with Winnipeg of the Canadian Football League.

Walczak, a free agent from Arizona, was used primarily as a long snapper after he was signed Nov. 17. He had been cut by Phoenix in training camp.

Beathard earlier had said that linebacker Jim Collins, offensive tackle James Fitzpatrick and cornerback Elvis Patterson would not return.

Charger Notes

Add to the list of Plan B players the Chargers have brought in for a look: defensive back Kerry Glenn of the New York Jets, running back Joe Mickles of Washington, linebacker Ken Rose of the Jets and guard Tom Toth of Miami. Add to the list of Charger Plan B players other teams have taken a look at: linebacker Joe Campbell (Cleveland).