Thursday, January 15, 1998

Jerry Jones gets search help from Bill Walsh

By Josie Karp

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - The search for a new head coach recently led Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to seek advice from former San Francisco coach Bill Walsh.

Jones sought out Walsh to ask his opinion on the state of the Cowboys and who might be qualified to take on the job of head coach that became available when Barry Switzer resigned last week.

"I was specifically asking him his views regarding qualifications (for a head coach) and his thoughts on our team. I have a lot of respect for Bill Walsh," Jones said Wednesday. "The thing I did before I bought the Dallas Cowboys was I really talked to a lot of people. I have that obligation to our organization. When I do make the decision (on a head coach), I will lay my head down and say I looked under every stone."

Said Walsh: "I've had conversations with Jerry about a number of people."

Among the names Walsh and Jones might have discussed are offensive coordinators Gary Kubiak of Denver, Jon Gruden of Philadelphia and Brian Billick of Minnesota. Earlier this week the Cowboys inquired about the availability of Billick as a potential offensive coordinator to replace Ernie Zampese, a source told the "Saint Paul Pioneer Press" on Wednesday.

Zampese remains under contract. He said last night he has not recently spoken to Jones about his job status or the search for a head coach.

"I think Jerry indicated something would happen after the Super Bowl," Zampese said. "In every town, there's a different name cropping up everywhere."

Jones could not be reached for comment regarding Billick.

"(Jones) is not going to comment on any specifics regarding head coaching candidates or anything to do with the makeup of potential assistant coaching staff positions," team spokesman Rich Dalrymple said.

Billick, who is scouting the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. could not be reached for comment.

The Cowboys do not have permission to talk to Billick. And because the Vikings have tabbed him as one of two supervisory coaches, he is not eligible to break his contract with the Vikings, which runs through next season, for anything less than a head coaching position. Therefore, he would not be eligible to take a job with another team as an offensive coordinator, at least right now.

The Vikings, however, might undergo an ownership change within the next month, which could lead to a departure of head coach Dennis Green, thereby freeing up his assistants.

Walsh and Billick share a long history and even collaborated on a recently published book about offensive philosophy.

Under Billick, 44, the Vikings' offense finished eighth in the NFL and fourth in the NFC in 1997, averaging 334.6 yards per game. The Vikings run a version of the offense Walsh installed in San Francisco that relies on a quick, short passing attack and one that many of his former assistants have brought to other teams.

It is not unprecedented for Jones to rely on advice from Walsh. Jones said he spoke with Walsh before buying the Cowboys in 1989.

On Wednesday, Jones said he thought it might be smart to "touch base" again with Walsh now that he's in "a changing mode."

Jones has said the search for a coach might not be completed until next month. Jones also said he might make decisions regarding next season's assistant coaches before hiring the head coach.

Jones said he has already extended the contracts of more than one assistant coach, thus ensuring they will coach next season, although he has declined to specify which coaches received extensions.(at)agatea:

(Staff writers Kevin Lyons and David A. Markiewicz contributed to this report.)

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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