Miami Dolphins At 50: Coaches
By Dan Heaning
No. 9 – Jim Bates
Jim Bates was tasked with cleaning up Dave Wannstedt’s mess in 2004. Bates was the defensive coordinator under Wannstedt but was promoted to interim head coach when Wannestedt resigned after a 1-8 start.
After Bates took over the team, Miami went 3-4 including a 29-28 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on a Monday night game in late December.
Yes, Bates was the coach of “When Courage Wore Orange.” That alone makes him better than Cam Cameron.
He wouldn’t get a chance to coach the team full-time as the Dolphins brought Nick Saban aboard in 2005. However, Bates earned three victories in seven games and did virtually nothing to destroy the team from within, which essentially is a major accomplishment.
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
No. 8 – Todd Bowles
Like Bates, Todd Bowles was promoted to finish off a lost season. When Tony Sparano was fired during the 2011 season after going 4-9, Bowles gave owner Stephen Ross something to think about when he coached the team to two victories in their last three contests.
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Under Bowles, the offense actually improved but the defense struggled mightily. In the last three outings, the Dolphins defense allowed over 400 total yards twice and 374 yards to the New York Jets in the season finale.
Bowles was considered for the job on a permanent basis but ultimately lost it to Joe Philbin. Now Bowles is the head coach of the Jets allowing him an opportunity to prove his worth as the head honcho.
But as a coach for the Dolphins, hey, he went 2-1. He’s over .500. Not many coaches for this franchise can say that.