'83 Chronology-Marv-elous

Event Date: October 2nd, 1983

Event Description: Blitz Hire Levy

Source: United Press International

The new owner and new head coach of a Chicago Blitz football team were revealed Saturday at a press conference in downtown Chicago.

Dr. James F. Hoffman Jr., chief of cardiovascular surgery at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Milwaukee, is the new owner. Marv Levy, former Kansas City Chiefs coach and television football commentator, is the new coach.

A priority of the new management team will be bringing crowds out to see the Blitz, who failed to fill Soldier Field despite winning the league championship last season. “We have to win their confidence over a period of time,” said Levy, who listed finding another veteran quarterback to go along with Greg Landry as one of his main priorities.

“Personnel is an area where we can gain ground quickly,” said Levy, a native Chicagoan who coached the Chiefs from 1978 to 1982 before working as a football analyst for NBC and ESPN television.

Hoffman, 43, who before buying the Blitz for approximately $7.2 million had no active participation in professional sports, said a change was needed despite the Blitz' winning record.

“If I had had an opportunity to buy the Blitz as it were, I would not have even considered it,” Hoffman said. “The front office was terrible, player contracts and salaries were heading for absolute disaster.”

Hoffman laid most of the blame on former Blitz Coach George Allen, who at the request of the the former Blitz' owner, Dr. Ted Diethrich, joined the now defunct Wranglers’ franchise after Diethrich purchased the team from Jim Joseph.

“I don't think he Bruce Allen did anything as general manager,” Hoffman said.

Levy came to the defense of Allen, who told Levy he feared Chicagoans would feel he was a turncoat for joining the Arizona squad. “George Allen told me to tell you he hopes he's not viewed as that much of a villain,” Levy said.

Other Blitz management personnel introduced at the news conference were general manager and chief executive officer Ronald E. Potochnik, a banking executive and former football coach; and executive vice president James Foster, who was the Wrangler's assistant general manager last season.

Also introduced were Ron Waller, former assistant coach of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs; business manager and ticket director Jerry Foran, who was the Blitz' ticket director last season; director of player development Gary Carroll, who worked in the same office for the USFL's Michigan Panthers last season, and recruiter Dan Jiggetts, a former player for the NFL's Chicago Bears.

Story-(UPI Modified)