Mike McCoy saw no reason to wait.

From Qualcomm Stadium, where he’d just been notified early Sunday evening he was dismissed as Chargers head coach, he made a quick drive north on Interstate 15, taking the first exit at Aero Drive. A few minutes later, he pulled into Chargers Park.

Time to pack.

He wouldn’t do it alone.


His wife Kellie, daughter Liv and a friend were there with him. Four years in a second-story office took little time to clear. His boxed personal belongings included a photo of his family’s 2013 arrival to this same building.

His family now helped him depart.

“We walked in here together,” McCoy said. “We walked out together.”

In that now-empty office, McCoy sat on a white couch Monday morning, reflecting on his four-year tenure. He expressed gratitude toward the Spanos family for the opportunity, acknowledged imperfections that weren’t for a lack of effort, and shared his plans for the upcoming season.


No doubt, he is disappointed it won’t be with the Chargers.

He sees promise for them in 2017. Although the circumstances are different, he likened this departure to when he left Denver to join San Diego in 2013. On his way out the door, he knew what his former franchise was capable of achieving.

The Broncos appeared in the Super Bowl the next year. They won it in 2015.

“That’s the hardest thing for me leaving,” McCoy said. “That’s the biggest disappointment because I know what we could be. … (But) I will be very happy for the players and the Spanos family’s success. That’s just the way I am.”


McCoy, 44, expressed his optimism in the Chargers’ future as part of his final message to players following Sunday’s 37-27 loss to the Chiefs.

As for him, his next opportunity should come soon enough.

He said that he plans to coach in 2017. His track record is such that he should be a strong offensive-coordinator candidate, having thrived in the role with the Broncos after moving up the coaching ranks in Carolina.

“I’ll be coaching somewhere next year,” McCoy said. “I don’t know where yet. I’ll make that decision. Whenever the right decision needs to be made, that’s when I’ll decide. There’s no timetable. I definitely want to be a head coach again. We’ll see what opportunity presents itself moving forward. ...


“I’m such a better coach now than I was when I first got here. You learn a lot through adversity. What we faced the past two years, it’s been tough. You can either get up and complain, or you can get up and move forward. … I was taught a long time ago: Don’t complain. Don’t explain. Find solutions.”

The Chargers had a 28-38 record under McCoy, including 1-1 in the playoffs. They made a surprise postseason run in 2013, advancing to the second round with an upset win in Cincinnati before a loss in Denver. They fell a win short of the playoffs the next year.

But the final two seasons were a struggle.

The team finished 4-12 in 2015 and 5-11 this past year. It had nine losses by a one-score margin in each season. In 2016, injuries took an especially noticeable toll when at least one player was ruled out for the season after 11 of the first 15 games. Twenty players ended the year on injured reserve.


After losses, McCoy acknowledged Monday some “sleepless nights” reflecting on various decisions, be it a timeout not called in a certain game situation or other scenarios that may have separated victory from defeat.

“There are things I wish I would have done differently, but I’ve got no regrets,” McCoy said. “I gave this organization everything I’ve got for four years, and I can’t thank the Spanos family enough. Along with fans, I can’t thank the players and the coaches enough — and everyone in this organization. …

“I can’t thank them enough for everything they do. We’ve got such a great group of people here. I’ve been in the business long enough. You see these things. … We didn’t win enough games.”

The Chargers elected not to wait until Monday morning to inform McCoy of his dismissal.


He said he appreciated the Sunday timing.

It gave him prompt finality and, after the game, a chance to return to Chargers Park with those closest to him — aside from son Luke, who was headed to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl — at his side.

Now, it’s time to move on.

For McCoy, box by box Sunday, that began.


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michael.gehlken@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @SDUTgehlken