ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- New Broncos Head Coach John Fox has spent most of his time at the team's Dove Valley practice facility since arriving in town on Wednesday to interview for the position.
The whirlwind period included hours of meetings with team officials, a stretch devoted to beginning to build Denver's new coaching staff and Friday's introductory press conference. But Fox said he still found an opportunity to stop and admire the team's impressive trophy case just inside the front entrance to the building.
The collection of relics from 51 seasons of Broncos football reminded the team's 14th head coach why he's long admired the organization from afar. And one look at the trophy case containing the Broncos' pair of Super Bowl championship trophies provided the perfect motivation as he started his tenure.
Meeting the media for the first time since accepting the job, Fox talked about feeling at home in his new organization and using his experience to help restore the team to the excellence represented in those displays, echoing the sentiments of the team officials who brought the former Carolina Panthers head coach to the Mile High City.
"I'm really excited about trying to bring (Owner and CEO) Mr. (Pat) Bowlen and the Denver Broncos fans another one of those (trophies,)" Fox said. "I've been in this league for some time. I've been to two Super Bowls. I haven't had the opportunity to win one. I'm doing this for one reason. That's to win a World Championship."
It's an opportunity Fox -- the winningest coach in Panthers history -- earned by outlining a clear vision for turning around a team coming off a 4-12 season.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway said Fox separated himself from the other four candidates who interviewed for the position thanks to his "experience," "football wisdom" and "enthusiasm."
The Hall of Fame quarterback said that after spending "probably 15 hours" with Fox during the interview process, he was convinced the coach provided a good match for the Broncos.
"I think he can come in here and turn this organization around," Bowlen said as he introduced Fox on Friday. "I do not have any doubt about it."
Fox inherited a 1-15 team with the Panthers in 2002 and guided them to a Super Bowl berth two seasons later. He became just the third coach in NFL history to inherit a one-win team and lead it to the playoffs within two years.
Coupled with positive recommendations from every player and front office source the team contacted about Fox, bringing on a coach with that proven track record proved too valuable to pass up.
"As he answered questions in terms of dealing with adversity or situations," General Manager Brian Xanders said, "he would tell a story of how they fixed it. That experience as a head coach for nine years stood out."
Fox, who compiled a 73-71 record in nine seasons with Carolina, has already begun that effort to reinvigorate the team.
The 55-year-old said he's already met with several players, including 
On Friday, Fox wouldn't discuss specific assistant coaches that he hoped to bring in but said he's well on his way to assembling a staff that will share in the team's vision for success. The head coach said he'd rather make an announcement of his full staff all at once in the near future.
"It's just exciting to have a new leader and have someone we can call a leader going into the offseason,"
When pressed to evaluate the team's current personnel during the session, Fox praised several position groups and individual players and vowed to do his best to maximize the talent at his disposal by adapting the gameplan to the team's strengths. He added that he hasn't yet decided on many specific strategies going forward, such as if the team will switch from its 3-4 defensive scheme.
"What is exciting is that you get to change and adjust and recruit and all the fun things that are a part of this competitive thing called the National Football League," Fox said.
Fox acknowledged that it will take hard work to lift Denver back into the league's elite but said he wouldn't have accepted the challenge if he did not think it were possible.
In fact, after being forced to wait two extra days to fly to interview because of snow in the southeastern United States, Fox said the delay probably helped him prepare a little better to present his plan.
As the Broncos continue to refine their blueprint to execute that strategy for success, Fox hopes his experience can expedite the process and ultimately, add more chapters to the team's storied history.
"I think I can bring something to the table because I have been through it," Fox said. "I can't promise that it will end up just like it did (in Carolina), but I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure it does."
