Sports News Southwest

San Diego, California - Buddy Nix, the San Diego Chargers’ assistant general manager and director of player personnel, announced his retirement today following 15 seasons in the NFL, including the last seven in San Diego. 

In the wake of Nix’ retirement, General Manager A.J. Smith announced a restructuring of the team’s personnel department, which included the promotion of six key current Chargers executives along with the addition of veteran NFL personnel executive Randy Mueller to the staff.

“With the retirement of Buddy, we have decided to restructure from within,” said Smith.  “We are rewarding a lot of talented people with promotions.

“A major part of our success over the last few years has been the work of our scouting department and the professional expertise of Ed McGuire.  We also had an opportunity to add experienced personnel man and long-time front office executive Randy Mueller.”

McGuire adds assistant general manager to his current role as the team’s executive vice president of football operations.  McGuire is Smith’s top-ranking assistant and will assist him in all player personnel matters.  He also oversees player contract negotiations as well as the day-to-day business and administrative operations of the scouting department, coaching department, equipment and video departments, training staff, and strength and conditioning staff.  McGuire, 46, is entering his 11th season in San Diego. 

Jimmy Raye, 39, previously the team’s director of college scouting, has been named director of player personnel.  He will oversee both the professional and college scouting departments.  In addition, he will assist Smith and McGuire in all player personnel matters.  Raye has been working in the Chargers’ personnel department for the past 12 years.

John Spanos, 28, is the Chargers’ new director of college scouting after serving as the assistant director for the past two years.  He is in his 11th season with the Chargers.  Spanos will coordinate the team’s scouting efforts in preparation for the college draft. . 

Mueller joins the Chargers as senior executive.  He will scout the top player prospects throughout the country and lend his many years of experience to the front office in helping to continue the steady flow of quality players to the Chargers.

Mueller brings 22 years of NFL experience to the Chargers.  He most recently served as the general manager of Miami Dolphins, where he spent three seasons.  Mueller had a two-year stint as the general manager of football operations with the New Orleans Saints.  In his first year on the job, New Orleans went 10-6 and notched the first playoff win in franchise history.  Following the 2000 season, Mueller was named NFL Executive of the Year by The Sporting News.  Between stints with the Dolphins and Saints, Mueller spent three years as an NFL analyst at ESPN. 

He began his scouting career in Seattle where he held various positions in the Seahawks’ personnel department over a 17-year period.  In 1983, he joined the club as a pro personnel assistant; was named pro personnel director in 1990, and was promoted to vice president of football operations in 1995.  A native of St. Maries, Idaho, Mueller played quarterback at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon.  As a senior, he led his club to a NAIA Division II National Championship and was named MVP of the title game.

“I’ve known Randy for more than 20 years,” Smith said.  “He’s a long-time personnel man who then went on to be a front office executive.  He brings a wealth of knowledge to the Chargers on a number of fronts, and I look forward to finally having a chance to work with him.” 

Other internal promotions in the Chargers’ player personnel department include Mike Biehl, 34, who has been promoted to assistant director of college scouting after serving as a college scout in San Diego since 2001.  Biehl will assist Spanos in the college scouting department while also scouting the Midwest region of the country and other key player assignments.  Tom McConnaughey, 50, a college scout since 1998, fills a new role as national scout and will scout top player prospects nationwide.  And Chris Hobbs becomes the team’s executive assistant – player personnel.  Hobbs, 26, will assist both college and pro scouting departments and also scout the Arena Football League. 

Nix, 68, joined the Chargers in 2001 as director of player personnel and was elevated to assistant general manager in 2003.  Prior to joining the Chargers, he spent eight years as a scout for the Buffalo Bills (1993-00).  Nix coached in the collegiate ranks for 32 years from 1961-92, most recently serving as head coach of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga from 1984-92. 

“Buddy has had a long, distinguished career in coaching and scouting,” said Smith.  “I have had the privilege of working alongside him for 15 years in Buffalo and San Diego.  He did an outstanding job.  We appreciate his contributions and wish him well.” 

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