Wednesday, January 28, 1998

Jones hesitates to pull trigger on new Cowboys coach

By DENNE H. FREEMAN / Associated Press

IRVING -- Not since Tom Landry was hired in 1960 have the Dallas Cowboys gone this long without a head coach.

Tuesday marked the 18th day since Barry Switzer's resignation statement was read at a news conference by owner Jerry Jones and a replacement has yet to be named.

When Jones fired Landry, he immediately hired Jimmy Johnson.

When Johnson got his $2 million resignation check, Jones hired Switzer a day later.

Jones has interviewed former San Francisco coach George Seifert and former UCLA coach Terry Donahue twice each. He also has interviewed Green Bay offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis and has a strong interest in Brian Billick of the Minnesota Vikings as offensive coordinator.

Jones didn't name his new coach Super Bowl week as a few predicted he would, but he made sure his mileage was a tax write-off. He interviewed Seifert, Donahue and Lewis the day after the Super Bowl in San Diego.

He previously had interviewed Donahue in Dallas and Seifert in San Diego. Jones made three trips between the cities last week.

He has not yet interviewed Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, who was rumored to be one of his choices.

Jones was working the telephones again Tuesday, but wasn't disclosing who he was calling.

Jones could be looking for a package deal. Seifert's strong suit at San Francisco was defense and Donahue was a college coach for 20 years. Both need a strong offensive coordinator and that could be Billick, who has one year remaining on his contract with the Vikings.

Jones could give up a 1998 draft pick for Billick because of the possibility of tampering charges.

"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 said he doesn't know when or if he'll meet again with Jones.

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

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

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

Donahue said lack of NFL coaching experience shouldn't be a serious problem.

"I look at the last two Cowboys coaches (Switzer and Johnson), and neither had NFL experience, and that's a pretty good indication of the chemistry and commitment of this team and organization," Donahue told The Dallas Morning News. "I feel I'm capable of doing the same thing."

Donahue has worked as a color analyst on college football for CBS the past two years.

Aikman, who has kept in contact with Donahue, said he doesn't want to make the choice for Jones.

"I'm not interested in having a friend come in here if no one else is," Aikman said. "It would make me uncomfortable if my teammates thought I had something to do with him getting the job. This is Jerry's decision."