Oakland Raiders Officially Select New Head Coach

Bucking the long tradition in Oakland of hiring offensive-minded head coaches, new Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie has officially named former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as the team’s new head coach.

The 39-year-old Allen was hired last week to replace Hue Jackson, who was fired after going 8-8 last season.

New general manager Reggie McKenzie said during a news conference on Monday that he was targeting Allen, who served one year as defensive coordinator for the division rival Broncos. McKenzie said he was “extremely impressed” by the young first year head coach’s two interviews.

Allen said he plans on fielding a team that is “smart, tough and disciplined,” this after the Raiders set an NFL record for penalties and yards penalized in 2011. He also said he hopes to bring an “aggressive, attacking style of defense” in 2012.

It is still unclear who will serve on Allen’s staff as both offensive and defensive coordinator.

Photo Credit: www.raiders.com

It's simple. Keith Mizuguchi loves to write and write and write some more. After taking a hiatus from the journalism business, he has rekindled his passion for writing over the last two years, holding a job as both a web and on-air writer for San Francisco news radio station KCBS. While he enjoys the news business, his true passions are twofold: sports and food. Bay Area born and raised, he lives in San Jose, commutes to SF and loves every minute of it. You can follow his food adventures on Twitter @foodie_keith.