San Francisco Calif. September 28 2000 — Jim Skipper former assistant head coach of the NFL’s New York Giants has been selected to guide the XFL’s premiere season in the Bay Area as head coach San Francisco Demons Vice President and General Manager Michael Preacher announced Thursday.

Skipper assumes the reins with the Demons after coaching 14 years in the National Football League with three different franchises and three successful seasons with the Philadelphia-Baltimore Stars in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.

"Jim Skipper’s coaching philosophy is extremely conducive for the smash-mouth aggressive style of football we promise to play in the XFL " Preacher said. "Simply Jim will be trying to score on every play and nothing can be more exciting for the fans.

"Add to that an abundance of experience as an offensive coordinator and running backs coach and he is a natural for our club " the Demons’ GM added. "To give up being the No. 2 man on a successful team in the biggest market in the NFL to join the Demons speaks volumes of the credibility the XFL has attained and we are extremely fortunate to have landed Jim Skipper."

Skipper launched his coaching career in his home state of California and established his coaching reputation in the Bay Area during stints at San Jose State (1977-78) coaching the secondary and the next season at Pacific tutoring the running backs. He has worked on offense each year since.

"It was not in my wildest dreams to think I would leave the New York Giants any time in the near future " Skipper said. "But this opportunity to be a head coach in the XFL and return to the Bay Area was far too attractive to pass up. I had to go."

After a three-year term in the Pacific-10 Conference at Oregon Skipper embarked on his professional coaching career with three seasons in the USFL helping the Stars to post-season appearances in each season.

Skipper also was involved in playoff action four times during a 10-year commitment with the New Orleans (1987-90-91-92) including a 1991 NFC Western Division championship and once strategizing with the New York Giants in 1997.

Throughout his successful tenure in the NFL Skipper has mentored Pro-Bowl running backs Reuben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard 1 000-yard back Gary Brown and current Oakland Raiders star Tyrone Wheatley. Most recently Skipper coached and developed the skills of one of the most dynamic tandems in Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne.

Football receives a high priority in the Skipper family. Jim and wife Elmarie have three sons: Kelly 33; Tim 22 and Courtney 19 all who have or are currently attending Fresno State. Kelly instructs running backs at UCLA and Tim is the Bulldogs’ three-year starting middle linebacker as a senior who was selected as the Western Athletic Conference defensive player of the week following last Saturday’s 17-3 victory over California.

Skipper a native of Brawley Calif. holds a B.A. degree in physical education from Whittier College and began his coaching career at Cal Poly-Pomona during the 1974-76 seasons. He was an all-conference selection at Imperial Valley College (1968-69) and led the league in kickoff returns before transferring to Whittier where he paced the conference in punt returns during his 1970-71 career.

The Demons are one of eight teams in the newly formed league co-owned by WWE Entertainment (NMSL: WWE) and NBC. The XFL begins play Feb 3 2001 in eight teams including New York/New Jersey Hitmen Chicago Enforcers Orlando Rage Las Vegas Outlaws Los Angeles Xtreme Birmingham Thunderbolts and Memphis Maniax.

PERSONAL FACTS

Born James Augustine Skipper on January 23 1949 in Breaux Bridge La.

Family – Wife Elmarie Sons Kelly (7-25-67) assistant football coach UCLA; Timmy (4-15-78) senior linebacker at Fresno State University and Courtney (3-29-81) sophomore at Fresno State University.

Education B.A. Whittier College 1973 (Physical Education); A.A. Imperial Valley Junior College 1971.

Professional Chronology – Cal Poly-Pomona 1974-76 secondary; San Jose State 1977-78 secondary running backs; Pacific (1979) running backs; Oregon 1980-82 running backs; Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (USFL) 1983-85 running backs; New Orleans Saints (NFL) 1986-95 running backs; Arizona Cardinals (NFL) 1996 running backs; New York Giants 1997-2000 assistant head coach offensive coordinator and running backs.