Knox Begins to Shape Future : Rams: New coach will retain Zampese as offensive coordinator. Fisher, Teerlinck, Haskell might stay. But Bettis, Houck, Shelmon and Raye are probably out.

BEVERLY HILLS — Hours after the afternoon media conference that officially heralded his arrival, new Ram Coach Chuck Knox seized the reins of power and began shaping his version of the Ram future.

Wednesday evening, Knox informed offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese that he would be retained as chief play-caller. Knox then told defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher that he will have to wait until the end of the week--and the decision of Seattle defensive coordinator Tom Catlin whether to leave the Seahawks--before he would know whether he will be back.

In the Beverly Hills hotel that will be his base for a few days and where he held his news conference, Knox met with Zampese, Fisher, special teams coach Gil Haskell and defensive line coach John Teerlinck, the only members of John Robinson’s former staff he is considering keeping.

Knox apparently will bring at least four, and maybe five, of his assistants with him from Seattle: secondary coach Rod Perry, special assignment coach Joe Vitt, defensive line coach George Dyer, and running backs coach Chick Harris will accompany him to Anaheim.

That means secondary coach Tom Bettis, who likely is headed to the San Diego Chargers, offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who might go to Seattle, running backs coach Clarence Shelmon and receivers coach Jimmy Raye do not have jobs with the Rams.

Linebackers coach Ronnie Jones might be retained, since Knox is not immediately bringing in anyone at that position, but no decision has been made.

Dyer’s status is a disadvantage to Teerlinck, who is admired by the Rams’ administration but will stay only if Knox is persuaded to move Dyer to linebackers coach.

Haskell gained an advantage when Seahawks special teams coach Rusty Tillman chose to stay in Seattle.

Catlin, 60, has an offer to remain in Seattle in some capacity and recently has talked about retiring, but has been offered a chance to become Knox’s defensive coordinator, and probably will decide in the next few days.

Fisher’s future hangs in the balance of that decision, although Knox apparently respects his work.

“I’d like very much to be a part of this organization,” Fisher, 33, said before meeting with Knox. “I hope I get an opportunity to do that.”

Executive Vice President John Shaw said he has no idea if Fisher will be retained. He might have already been given permission to look elsewhere.

“I think he will be interviewed and hopefully retained,” Shaw said. “But that’s up to Chuck.”

Zampese, the Rams’ offensive coordinator since 1987, seems an unlikely man to become Knox’s chief offensive planner, but Knox said he has always thought highly of Zampese.

“I have a lot of respect for Ernie Zampese,” Knox said. “He’s got a great philosophy. He’s done an outstanding job coaching. I’ve known him a long time.”

Knox pointed out, however, he thinks it’s imperative the Rams hire a coach for quarterbacks, and most specifically, for Jim Everett, who has experienced a major two-year slump since being regarded as one of the best signal-callers in the league.

Ken Meyer, Knox’s quarterback coach in Seattle, will not be joining Knox in Anaheim, and Knox apparently has no leading candidate for that position.

“The quarterback, you need to maximize the talent at that particular position because he’s going to be handling the ball on every play,” Knox said. “By the nature of the position, leadership has to come from him.

“By the nature of the position, it’s the work ethic and the preparation . . . these are keys, because that affects all the other people on offense. So I would say that would certainly be a key area. No matter who was at that position.”

What does Knox think about Everett?

“I like his physical ability,” Knox said. “He’s tall, he moves well, has a strong arm, has got a good arm. . .

“I think it’s important to have someone at that (coaching) position that the quarterback can identify with, that he can talk to, that he can help fundamentally, watching him all the way, can kind of help him in all the little ways a quarterback coach can.”

Knox also is considering hiring a personnel man to help evaluate talent, but apparently has no firm idea who the leading candidates for that job might be.

“I need to sit down and meet with the personnel people that are here now and try to determine what our needs are and whether or not we need to do anything in that particular department,” Knox said.

“But we’re not going to rush into anything or make any snap decisions. I’ll have a lot of that responsibility, and I’ll be held accountable for it, and I’ll be given the support by (Ram Owner) Georgia (Frontiere) . . . so it’s very important that we have the right people in the right places.”