Wow, an owner flying out to a guy on vacation for an interview. Ya think if Cards wanted Pete Carroll they'd do this? LOL
Dolphins add Carroll as candidate
Click-2-Listen
By Greg A. Bedard
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Dolphins have added Southern California coach Pete Carroll to their list of head-coaching candidates, a source said Sunday, and team officials might already have talked to Carroll.
Carroll, according to a Los Angeles Daily News report, is on vacation in Costa Rica, and a plane owned by Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga was in Costa Rica on Saturday.
Huizenga's plane, which has a Dolphins logo on its tail, was used to take the owner to interviews in Atlanta, San Diego, Chicago and Pittsburgh.
The Dolphins interviewed six candidates on Thursday and Friday: former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora, Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Chicago Bears coordinators Ron Rivera (defense) and Ron Turner (offense), and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.
Messages left for Carroll's representatives were not returned.
Carroll, 55, recently completed his sixth season as head coach of the Trojans. He has a 65-12 record and has led USC to two consecutive national championships.
Before heading to the college ranks, Carroll was an NFL head coach with the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-99), compiling a 33-31 regular-season record, 34-33 overall.
Carroll spent an additional 12 years in the NFL as a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator with four teams.
Huizenga has long been intrigued by Carroll, according to a source.
However, Carroll is a defensive-minded coach and the Dolphins want to change to a more offensive-minded approach. Also, Carroll has recently said he is happy in the college game, and Huizenga is replacing Nick Saban because Saban preferred to coach in college.
The Dolphins will speak with Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin on Monday in Minnesota. The Dolphins are also expected to interview Jim Bates, who once served as Dolphins defensive coordinator and interim head coach, and current Dolphins coordinators Dom Capers (defense) and Mike Mularkey (offense) early this week before quickly settling on a list of finalists.
Interviews with Rivera and Tomlin would satisfy the NFL's "Rooney Rule," which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach. That should allow the Dolphins to move quickly on making a final decisiion.
