It took longer than expected — heck, the Dallas Cowboys jumped the gun and posted the hiring on their own website more than a week ago — but former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley is returning to the NFL. Dooley confirmed via Twitter last night that he is indeed heading to Dallas to coach the team’s wide receivers.
Dooley served along with current Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006. Alabama coach Nick Saban was that team’s head coach and Dooley handled the tight end duties.
Thanks to his Tennessee buyout, Dooley will likely be making more cash than any other position coach in the NFL next year. He’ll be paid $5 million in monthly installments of $102,040 through December of 2016.
Dooley will serve on the same staff with new Cowboys defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Kiffin’s son, Lane, opened the door for Dooley to move from Louisiana Tech to Knoxville (after a 4-8 season) when he left the Vols after just one season. His annihilation of the Volunteer roster, however, also left Dooley in a no-win situation.
Next question: Will quarterback Tyler Bray, receivers Justin Hunter or Cordarrelle Patterson, or ex-receiver Da’Rick Rogers be reunited with their old coach in Big D? And would they want to be?
