Dennis Allen rises from Reluctant addition to New Orleans Saints head Coach

Sixteen years ago, when Dennis Allen joined the New Orleans Saints, he did so reluctantly.

The 33-year-old, who would turn 34 during the 2006 regular season, had been a defensive Assistant for the Falcons and, quite likely, wasn’t awed about joining a franchise that had a new, first-time head Coach (Sean Payton) and, along with its city, had been wobbled by Hurricane Katrina.

“Sean brought me here with his first staff in 2006,” Allen said Tuesday afternoon. “I was a little lowly Assistant in Atlanta – kind of went kind of kicking and screaming a little bit, but I came.

“And it was the Greatest thing, from a professional standpoint – it was the Greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. And I’ve learned so many Lessons here being a part of his staff and really getting a chance to watch him up close and personal. “

The Lessons learned have resulted in the Ultimate promotion: Allen was officially named head Coach of the Saints on Tuesday, the 17th in franchise history (including interim coaches).

“We selected Dennis Allen, and we selected him because of his leadership skills, because of his teaching skills, because of his football acumen, and Frankly he’s just a Damned Good Football Coach,” said Executive Vice President / General Manager Mickey Loomis, who spearheaded the interview process. Payton stepped down as head Coach on Jan. 25 after 16 years with the organization.

“We interviewed (Allen) for six hours last week, but the truth is we’ve been interviewing him for 12 of the last 16 years,” Loomis said. “We hated it when he left in 2011 (to become defensive Coordinator for the Broncos, and later head Coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2012-14), and we couldn’t have been more excited than when he returned to us in 2015.

“He’s been instrumental in all of the success that we’ve had over the last 16 years.”