A press conference on Friday will be held to introduce Jim Schwartz the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans as the replacement for the fired Rod Marinelli of Detroit Lions.

The Lions patiently and meticulously dissected the strengths and minuses of the primary candidates. In a statement released by the team president Tom Lewand said that After an extensive search that included several highly-qualified coaches, we are thrilled that Jim Schwartz will become our team's head coach, The president also believe to the new chosen coach saying Martin (Mayhew) and I believe that Jim's qualifications and vision will lead this organization on the field toward our goal of becoming a championship football team.

Marinelli was let go Dec. 30 after the Lions posted the first 0-16 record in league history. Lewand was promoted to president and Martin Mayhew was named general manager in September after Matt Millen was fired from the front office.

Schwartz, 42, was one of two finalists for the position with the other being Miami's secondary coach, Todd Bowles. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Maryland in 1989, later had the same position at Minnesota and went on to become a secondary coach for North Carolina Central and linebackers coach at Colgate.

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