Eden Prarie, Minn. — Mike Tice took firm control of the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, shaking up his staff amid a report that he would hire disgraced coach George O'Leary as an assistant.
In his first day as head coach, Tice dismissed a fifth assistant, challenged quarterback Daunte Culpepper to get better, and promised that none of his players would loaf.
And the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported on its Web site that Tice plans to make O'Leary his defensive line coach.
O'Leary, who quit five days after being hired as Notre Dame coach when he was found to have lied on his resume, declined Thursday to confirm the report in an interview with The Associated Press. He said he expected to talk to Tice again.
Tice didn't mention O'Leary at a news conference to introduce him as the replacement for Dennis Green, and he wasn't available to reporters later in the day.
Tice pledged a quick return to success for the Vikings after a 5-11 season.
Green was ousted last week, agreeing with Vikings owner Red McCombs on a buyout of the two years left on his contract.
The staff will have a decidedly different look in 2002. Four assistants, including offensive coordinator Sherm Lewis and defensive coordinator Emmitt Thomas, learned Tuesday they won't be returning, and outside linebackers coach Trent Walters left for a job at Notre Dame.
Special teams coach Gary Zauner was fired by Tice Thursday.
Tice offered the defensive coordinator position to defensive backs coach Willie Shaw, who hasn't decided yet whether to accept it.
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