The Saints named offensive line coach Aaron Kromer acting head coach, making him the third member of the staff to wear the title in five months.
Sean Payton was suspended for the 2012 season in March and assistant head coach Joe Vitt, the interim coach, will serve a six-game suspension for his connection to the bounty program the team allegedly ran from 2009 to 2011 under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
“I appreciate the confidence that Mr. Benson and Mickey have in me to handle this duty while Coach Vitt and Coach Payton are not with us,” said Kromer. “Coach Payton has laid a successful foundation here and our jobs are to make sure we keep moving in that direction.”
The 45-year-old Kromer has 22 years coaching experience and served as play-caller last season when Payton suffered a leg injury and was confined to the press box. They’ve known each other since the 1990s, when both worked on the Miami (Ohio) coaching staff.
With the Saints, Kromer has been responsible for coordinating the Saints’ rushing attack in addition to offensive line coach duties. He will officially take over the duties on Monday, Sept. 3.
“This was a difficult decision because we have several coaches on our staff that would do a great job in this role,” said general manager Mickey Loomis. “Ultimately, I wanted to have the least amount of change with both the offensive and defensive staffs, and maintain the most continuity with the program that has been in place for the last six years.”
Among candidates Loomis considered was defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who was head coach of the Rams before he was fired and joined New Orleans as Williams’ replacement.
Kromer was briefly considered a candidate to replace Spagnuolo as Rams head coach in January.
“Aaron has been with us since 2008, he has coached with Sean both in college and here at the Saints. He is very familiar with our team and with the methods we have been successful with. He will do a great job,” added Loomis, who is due to serve his own eight-game suspension as penance for his knowledge and lack of action in the pay-for-performance program.
“The job our staff has done during Sean’s absence has been remarkable,” said Vitt. “We have great talent and depth on our coaching staff, but most importantly we have guys on this coaching staff that clearly understand the foundation of success that Sean has built and I feel great that Aaron and the rest of the staff will continue to build on that foundation.”