<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Updated: Feb. 8, 2007, 2:15 AM ETSources: Cowboys to name Phillips new head coachESPN.comTom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Parcells ... Cowboys fans have been waiting for the next big name to lead a storied franchise. They might be surprised by the answer.League and Cowboys sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will be named Dallas' head coach. Phillips traveled from San Diego to Dallas on Wednesday night after being told that he was their choice to replace the now-retired Parcells. While contract details must still be worked out and a contract signed, a formal team announcement for Phillips could come as early as Thursday.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had reportedly been torn between hiring a defensive- or offensive-minded coach. Choosing Phillips answers that question and addresses issues with Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. The Cowboys have been running a 3-4 defense while Rivera is the architect of Chicago's successful 4-3 scheme. Phillips has had great success with the 3-4 defense throughout his career and helped the Chargers to a 14-2 regular-season record in 2006.San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner was widely regarded as the front-runner for the Cowboys job. The hiring of former Cowboys quarterback Jason Garrett might have doomed his candidacy. Garrett's role has not been formally defined, but he will likely be named Dallas' offensive coordinator. Turner is considered one of the premier play-callers in the league, and Jones might not have wanted to impede Garrett, who reportedly impressed the Cowboys owner in their interview.Phillips spent much of Tuesday contacting coaches he wants to hire as assistants if he gets the Dallas job, sources told ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli."It would be an overstatement to say he's putting together a staff," one source said. "But he was just touching base with his guys, updating them as to where he thinks things stand, and trying to hold [potential staffers]together. He is still in the hunt."On Wednesday, Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell became the 10th candidate to interview for a vacancy created when Parcells opted to retire on Jan. 21. Phillips interviewed for the job on Jan. 26.Caldwell met with Jones and his son Stephen for more than six hours Wednesday and said he expected a decision to be made in "short order.""I had a great time," Caldwell said of his interview for the Cowboys' head coaching vacancy. "I learned a lot about the organization." In head coaching stints with Denver (1993-94) and Buffalo (1998-2000), Phillips compiled a 45-38 record, including the playoffs, and led his teams to three wild-card berths. He also served stints as interim head coach at New Orleans in 1985 and Atlanta in 2003.Link</div>I am happy cuz the 49ers dont lose one of the best offensive coordinators of all-time or our assistant HC :thumbsup:
I kinda like this move if I was a Cowboys fan because they have someone very experianced in the 3-4 Defense which they already ran. It'd be a bigger step backwards IMO hiring someone like Rivera who would want to implement his own defense.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>RVING, Texas - Wade Phillips appeared set to become the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, according to several reports.Despite a Cowboys spokesman saying Thursday the job hadn't been filled, there were several reports that Phillips was to succeed Bill Parcells, who retired Jan. 22."The job hasn't been offered to anyone," said Rich Dalrymple, the team's public relations director.Dalrymple also said there were no plans yet for any announcement concerning the coaching vacancy.When Phillips' agent, Gary O'Hagan, was reached on his cell phone Thursday morning, he told The Associated Press, "I'm tied up right now; I can't talk," before hanging up.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones arrived at Valley Ranch on Thursday morning. While getting out of his car at a back entrance to the complex, he told KTVT-TV of Dallas that he hadn't offered the job to anyone.But the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on their Web sites, as did ESPN.com and NFL.com, that Phillips had been selected as the next coach. All cited unidentified sources.</div>Sounds a bit like the Steelers hiring Russ Grimm to be their head coach.... :whistling:
I hate to say this, but the Cowboys actually made a pretty good move. Not only did he coach playoffs teams (as a head coach), but he runs the 3-4 very very very well like venom said.Good move, but Joe Gibbs is better :bb:
