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Friday, January 19, 2001

VonAppen fired
by Vikings

Green reshuffles Vikings
coaching staff again

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Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green made changes to his defensive staff for the second straight season Friday by firing two coaches, moving two and reassigning another.

The team announced that outside linebackers coach John Fontes and defensive line coach and former University of Hawaii head football coach Fred vonAppen were let go. Defensive backs coach Richard Solomon - a longtime friend of Green's - will shift to inside linebackers in place of Trent Walters, who was reassigned to defensive assistant.

Kansas City Chiefs assistant Willie Shaw will become the new defensive backs coach. He held the same position with Minnesota in 1992-93. The Vikings' defense, which has ranked near the bottom of the league in yards allowed the last two years, was first in the NFL in 1993.

"Willie Shaw's extensive background in defensive football is a good fit for our team," Green said in a statement. "In his two years with us, we were solid on defense. It is exciting to have him back with us."

Defensive assistant Chuck Knox Jr. will take over the outside linebackers, replacing Fontes. No replacement was named for vonAppen.

Special teams coach Gary Zauner's contract was also renewed for two more years.

Last year, Green replaced both coordinators in a purge in which six assistants either left or were fired.