Chuck Pagano paced back and forth, as if he was excitedly addressing his team before a big game.

He promised to get to know every member of the Colts’ organization, right down to the janitors.

That fervent demeanor convinced Colts owner Jim Irsay and general manager Ryan Grigson that he was the right man to be head coach, even though he’s never had such a job before.

“You could see, right from the minute he stepped in the room, he has things you can’t fake,” said Grigson, who introduced Pagano on Thursday. “He has true leadership and is a leader of men. His style transcends age in this league, from 12-year veterans to rookies, and that’s special. The way he communicates, they are things you can’t teach. They are part of your core and being.”

Pagano, 51, was defensive coordinator for one season with the Baltimore Ravens, who lost 23-20 Sunday in the AFC championship game to the New England Patriots. The Patriots face the New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium in Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.

“I thought I was going to be coming to Indianapolis to play for a world championship and not standing here becoming the next head coach,” Pagano said.

Pagano replaced Jim Caldwell, who was 26-22 in three seasons and took the Colts to the Super Bowl after the 2009 season. But the Colts went a league-worst 2-14 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and landing the top pick in the upcoming draft.

The Colts interviewed eight coaching candidates.

“To be a leader determines the rate of the pack,” Pagano said. “If I’m moving fast and we have a high energy level, I think everybody else will follow.”

Pagano hasn’t decided on the future of four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, who missed this season after three neck surgeries in 19 months. The Colts have to determine by March 8 whether they want to pick up a $28 million option on Manning, who could be replaced by the top overall pick in the draft, likely Stanford’s Andrew Luck or Baylor’s Robert Griffin III.

Pagano also said people shouldn’t assume the Colts will implement a Ravens-like 3-4 defense, which would require personnel changes and probably shift defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, if he’s re-signed, to linebacker.

“We’re going to find out the strengths and weaknesses of this unit and put them in the best position to win games,” Pagano said. “If we can move toward the type of defense, the brand of defense I just came from, we can evolve to that.”

There has been much transformation recently, including the firings of vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, Chris, who had been vice president and general manager. That opened the way for Grigson, 39, who had been director of player personnel with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Before four seasons with the Ravens, including three as the secondary coach, Pagano worked in the NFL with Oakland and Cleveland. He also coached in college with North Carolina, Miami, East Carolina, UNLV, Boise State and USC.

“I wanted it to be an authentic group of two men (Grigson and Pagano) that would define us going forward,” Irsay said. “I didn’t want to have a retread process and play an old song from another era or another franchise. I wanted to bring in what I thought would give us the best chance to go forward.”

Indianapolis will fall in love with Pagano, said his brother John, who is the San Diego Chargers’ defensive coordinator and a former Colts assistant coach.

“He’s going to bring some unbelievable energy,” John Pagano said. “The bigger thing is seeing how the players will respond to him and what he brings. What he brought to the Ravens’ defense this year and what he’s going to bring to Indianapolis is going to be really exciting.”

jcohn@jg.net