Tuesday, January 27, 1998

Jones close to announcing new coach

By The Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he's close to announcing who will be the next coach of the NFL team, according to a published report.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said today that Jones was so busy interviewing candidates Monday in San Diego that he interviewed one candidate in his hotel room while another waited downstairs in the hotel bar.

Jones has met with former San Francisco 49ers coach George Seifert, former UCLA coach Terry Donahue, and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis.

"I haven't made anybody an offer," Jones said Monday night. "We recognize in order to make decisions regarding our staff it's important to be as timely as we can."

Lewis, 55, said he doesn't know when or if he'll meet again with Jones, who has been looking for a head coach since Barry Switzer resigned Jan. 9.

"That's up to Jerry," Lewis said. "It's in his court."

The owner, who was scheduled to return to Dallas late Monday night, said he would continue talks today in person or on the telephone with his candidates. He said he has contacted all the candidates he is interested in, an indication he has no plans to seek permission to talk to Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak about the position.

Jones started his day with a breakfast interview with Lewis, followed that with a second face-to-face meeting with Seifert, and then had a late lunch with Donahue.

"It was a very good day for the Dallas Cowboys," Jones said.

Jones has spent more time with Donahue than with the other candidates. Donahue was coach at UCLA when Troy Aikman was quarterback for the Bruins.

"He brings a lot to the table," Jerry Jones said of Donahue. "It's really neat to see Terry's enthusiasm not only for the NFL, but for the Dallas Cowboys."

Donahue told The Dallas Morning News Monday that his lack of NFL coaching experience shouldn't be a serious problem.

"I look at the last two Cowboys coaches (Switzer and Jimmy Johnson), and neither had NFL experience, and that's a pretty good indication of the chemistry and commitment of this team and organization," said Donahue, who has worked as a color analyst on college football for CBS the past two years. "I feel I'm capable of doing the same thing,"