Vince Lombardi was hired as Packers coach and general manager on Jan. 28, 1959. Credit: File

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Vince Lombardi, 45, who for the last five years has been in charge of the New York Giants' offense, Wednesday was named general manager and coach of the Green Bay Packers. He has a five year contract.

Lombardi, a guard on Fordham University's "seven blocks of granite" line in the middle1930s, had never before been head coach above the high school level.

"My word will be final," Lombardi said Thursday morning in New York. "I've never been connected with a losing team and I hope to instill a winning spirit in the Packers in a lot less than five years."

The terms of Lombardi's contract were not revealed.

Demanded Both Jobs

When asked about the dual job of general manager and coach, Lombardi said, "That's the only way I'd take the job. I doubt if I would have come just as coach. This is a better challenge, a better opportunity. I'll have to have a very fine staff and I'm sure I will."

Lombardi will come to Green Bay next Monday and spend "two or three days" there. Then he will return to New York to finish his affairs there and will take over full time with the Packers a week from Monday.

Lombardi replaces Ray (Scooter) McLean as coach. McLean resigned in December after his first and only Packer team won one game, lost 10 and tied one for Green Bay's worst record in 40 seasons in the National Football League. McLean went to Detroit as backfield coach of the Lions under George Wilson.

Lewellen May Stay

Verne Lewellen has been general manager of the Packers at least in name. He probably will remain in the organization as business manager. Lombardi said that he planned to speak to Lewellen about it next week. That is what Lewellen's job amounted to in the last five years.

Dominic Olejniczak, president of the Packers, said, "Lombardi has the background to be a good administrator. We know that from a couple of long interviews with him. He was our man without a question of a doubt."

Just a Discussion

Olejniczak said that Lombardi's name was the only one presented to the board of directors. Of the 45 directors, 27 were on hand. The vote was 26-1 to accept Lombardi. This came after what Olejniczak described as a "healthy discussion."

Was it an argument? the president was asked.

"No," he said, "not at all. No one tried to tear down the roof. It was just a healthy discussion. That's all."

Lombardi said that Jack Vainisi would remain on his staff as personnel scout and assistant. Otherwise, he said that he had selected no one as helpers.

"I have about 10 men in mind as assistants," Lombardi said. "I will not take along any of the Giants' assistants (Tom Landry, John Dell Isola and Ken Kavanaugh). I have too much respect for this (New York) organization."

Played at Fordham

Lombardi, who was born June 11, 1913, is a native of Englewood, N.J. He played at Fordham with John Druze, who resigned last fall as Marquette University football coach. Druze played end and Lombardi guard on the "seven blocks of granite." Lombardi was a year ahead of Druze in school.

He started his coaching career at St. Cecilia high school in Englewood. He never played pro ball. At St. Cecilia, he used the "T" formation and in eight years his teams won six state titles. They had a 36-game winning streak.

In 1947, Lombardi went back to Fordham as freshman coach. He also was studying law, but when a call came from Earl (Red) Blaik, to become assistant coach at Army, Lombardi decided football coaching, not the law, was for him.

Aide to Howell

He was backfield coach at West Point until 1954, when he became Jim Lee Howell's first lieutenant with the Giants. He had complete charge of the offense. In his time, the Giants won two divisional championships - in 1956 and last fall - and one league championship, in 1956 when the Giants beat the Chicago Bears in the play-off, 47-7.

Lombardi is married and the father of two children. He is the fifth head coach in the Packers' history. Curly Lambeau, the team's founder, was the first - from 1919 through 1949. Then Gene Ronzani took over until 1953; Lisle Blackbourn from 1954 through 1957, and McLean last year.

The executive committee of 13 members has handled many of the duties which Lombardi will presumably take over as general manager.