Dolphins Coaching Decision: Staff Thoughts

In less than a week, the Miami Dolphins will officially start their head coaching search.  So many answers to the questions we have been debating over the last month will begin to come to the forefront of the news wire.  Will Jeff Ireland indeed be retained?  Will Stephen Ross find his big name HC?  Will the Dolphins struggle to land a marquee name or will they be spurned by the top candidates?

Around the league, other teams will begin their coaching searches.  As many as ten teams could be hunting for new HC’s come Monday afternoon.  Black Monday looms across the NFL landscape.  Dallas and the NY Giants will face off on Sunday night’s season finale and the loser may lose more than just a post-season birth.  In Tampa, Raheem Morris is rumored to be heading out, Indianapolis, Washington, Arizona, St. Louis, Chicago, Buffalo, Minnesota, and San Diego, all may be looking for new men to run their teams.

While some will get retained, other will not making the decision to jump start the coaching search much more important for the three teams who have already let their coaches go.  Miami, Kansas City, and Jacksonville, all of whom have had a three week head start to look over resume’s.  Interviews will start on Tuesday around the league.  First by phone calls and then in person courting.  Fans and media will track the tail numbers of flights and attempt to predict who is flying to meet whom.  Everyone of course has their opinions, and more importantly their wants.

Including the staff here at Phinphanatic.com.  Over the course of the next few days, we will give you our staff predictions and that staff members own personal wish for who should be the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins.  Our first two are after the jump!

We kick this off this morning with our two longest tenured staff members.  Shane “Onole” Ford, our draft guru, and Patrik Nohe our long time staffer who also writes for the Miami Herald as freelance journalist covering the Florida Gators.  Here is what they have to say about the looming coaching search.

Shane Ford

Who I want for HC:

Rob Chudzinski, He is young and innovative. The work he has done with Cam Newton should speak volumes for his ability. He’s a UM grad and I think would be a very good hire for the Dolphins.

Who I think will be the next Dolphins HC:

Brian Billick, he will be the last of the big name coaches. Cowher isn’t leaving CBS unless Coughlin is fired, Fisher and Gruden will end up in SD and St Louis. Ross wants a name, so Billick will be the last of the named coaches.

Patrik Nohe

Who I want to Coach the Dolphins:

Tony Dungy.  Given that Don Shula is getting on in years, I’d ask another coach to un-retire and pursue Dungy. Right now Miami is a laughingstock, Dungy brings instant credibility, respect and a winning pedigree. Not to mention Dungy can work with a GM as he did in Tampa and Indy. It’s never going to happen, but Dungy could put Miami back on track organizationally and his mentoring and tutelage would be invaluable to the younger players on the team.

Who I think they hire? 

Rob Ryan.  This move just makes too much sense. Given Ireland’s affinity for Cowboys and Ross’ love of splashy PR moves, I think hiring Rex’s brother out of Dallas is a distinct possibility. Ryan is, to his credit, a very impressive DC and may be in line for a head coaching job already, I’m just not sure he’d be a great fit in Miami. Especially when Mike Nolan seems to have turned the defense into a solid unit the last half of the season. Still, I have a feeling we’ll see another Ryan brother in the AFC East soon.