NEWSLETTER
When we discuss regime changes, I don’t think we spend enough time talking about the trickle-down effect of how changes at the top impact the not-so-high-profile jobs elsewhere throughout the organization.
Because, yes, the general manager and head coaching positions are the most important ones in the chain of command. However, the best organizations run like a well-oiled machine that has contributions from everywhere. And to this point, I tip my cap to Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles for acknowledging the scouts and other team employees for their work. When he brought out scouts to chop it up with the media at Halas Hall after the Bears made their picks, it was a nice touch and a new perspective from the talent evaluators who know these prospects best.
And on Thursday, Poles and the Bears announced a bunch of them were getting promotions. Among them:
• Breck Ackley goes from area scout to Assistant Director of College Scouting.
• Former national scouts Sam Summerville and Francis Saint Paul are now Senior National Scouts.
• As was previously reported, Ashton Washington makes the move from scouting assistant to Player Personnel Coordinator
• Charles Love gets the call to Pro Scout after being a scouting assistant the last two years.
Other promotions include Chris White (Assistant Director of Pro Scouting), John Syty (Southwest area scout), and Brendan Rehor (Southeast area scout). The internal organizational advancement continues with Mike Santarelli (Executive Director of Football Technology) and James Cosh (Manager of Football Administration/pro scout). And for good measure, Poles also brought in some fresh faces. Poles was also able to coax Tom Bradway (Northeast scout) from the Raiders, pull Ryan Cavanaugh (Midwest scout) from being Ohio State’s college scouting coordinator, and snag Ryan Reese (scouting assistant) away from Montana State football.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the work our player personnel staff and scouts have put in to this organization since January,” Poles said in a team release. “These promotions and hirings are all well-deserved and put us in a great position moving forward when it comes to scouting the best talent at the collegiate and NFL levels.”
It’s almost as if an organization that was in desperate need of re-shaping is starting to get it. I can’t imagine the changes will stop here.
