Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver has promoted Gene Smith to the position of General Manager/Senior Vice President, Player Personnel in one of four changes made within the player personnel department. Smith, 45, is in his 15th year with the organization and had been promoted to Vice President at the end of the 2008 season.
“The changes we are making will bring greater clarity in responsibilities,” Weaver said, “with Gene Smith having final say in personnel decisions and Jack Del Rio having final say in all coaching decisions. Gene has been given greater and greater responsibility with this organization, and I am confident that in this new role he will be successful in directing our football operation,” Weaver said.
“Gene and Jack have worked closely in the past and will continue to do so to make this a strong, competitive team year in and year out,” Weaver added. “Our goal is to win a championship and the moves we make are with that clear objective in mind. I’m excited for our fans because I believe we are ascending as 2009 unfolds.”
In the three other promotions Terry McDonough was named Director, Player Personnel, Tim Mingey was named Assistant Director, College Personnel, and Andy Dengler was named National Scout.
“I appreciate and am grateful for Wayne’s leadership and his confidence in me,” Smith said. “Our challenge is to build a playoff caliber team that can compete to win a world championship. We have a staff of quality people who drive the process, and the player personnel department will continue to work with the coaching staff to collectively accumulate not only the best players, but the best people who possess our defined character traits. I’m looking forward to developing a roster with Jack that will give our coaching staff a competitive advantage.”
Smith has risen through the Jaguars personnel department over the past 14 years since beginning in 1994 as the team’s Blesto Combine Scout. He has served as a College Scout, Director of College Scouting, Executive Director of College and Pro Personnel, and Vice President of Player Personnel.
McDonough has been with the Jaguars for six years and most recently served as National Scout. A veteran of 20 years in scouting, McDonough has worked in scouting and supervisory roles for the Barcelona Dragons of the World League in addition to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
Mingey joined the Jaguars in 1994 and, like Smith, is one of 15 current Jaguars employees who have been with the organization for 14 years. Mingey has been an Executive Scout for the last six seasons after serving as a College Scout for nine years. Previously he spent 21 years as a college assistant coach and a recruiting coordinator.
Dengler was promoted to Executive Scout in 2008 after serving for 10 years as a College Scout for the Jaguars. Joining the team in 1998, he had 4 years of experience as a National Combine Scout and 8 years experience coaching in college as an assistant head coach, coordinator and position coach.