IRVING, Texas -- In winning a second NFC East title in three seasons and breaking the franchise's 13-year playoff victory drought, Wade Phillips has a three-year agreement in place to remain the Cowboys' head coach, DallasCowboys.com has learned.
For weeks, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones has strongly indicated, though not said publicly, that he would exercise a fourth-year option for 2010 in Phillips' original three-year contract. The Cowboys have not made a formal announcement, though a team spokesman said a season-ending press conference will be held by week's end.
After winning the franchise's first postseason game since 1996 - 34-14 over the Philadelphia Eagles - the Cowboys (12-6) lost Sunday, 34-3, to the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round. The players conducted their exit interviews and physicals on Monday and won't return for official workouts until the off-season strength and conditioning program in March.
Phillips and his staff have remained at Valley Ranch this week and will travel to Miami next Tuesday to coach the NFC Pro Bowl team. The Cowboys currently have six players on the squad: linebacker DeMarcus Ware, tight end Jason Witten, wide receiver Miles Austin, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, center Andre Gurode and guard Leonard Davis.
Since succeeding Bill Parcells in 2007, Phillips has a 33-15 record (.687) in three seasons - the highest winning percentage all-time among Cowboys coaches. His job security, though, has been a public topic of discussion since the end of the 2008 season, when the Cowboys missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record and lost 44-6 to the Eagles in the regular-season finale.
The Cowboys made significant roster changes in the off-season, including the release of wide receiver Terrell Owens. Phillips assumed a dual role of head coach/defensive coordinator and installed five new starters on defense.
The results were successful. The Cowboys ranked second in the NFL in points allowed (250) and pitched two consecutive shutouts in December-January to win the NFC East. Quarterback Tony Romo had his most efficient year as a starter, passing for more than 4,000 yards for the second time in three years while throwing a career-low nine interceptions. Miles Austin emerged as a go-to receiver in 12 starts, and the special teams units were vastly improved under first-year coordinator Joe DeCamillis.
As they left the complex Monday, several players indicated Phillips was returning and offered strong support.
"He's our head coach," inside linebacker Bradie James said. "In three years, we won two division championships. I think that's a pretty good résumé."
Jones has also spoken consistently about the importance of coaching continuity - not just with Phillips, but the entire staff. He said only three assistants have contracts up at the end of the season: secondary/safeties coach Brett Maxie, quality control/offensive assistant Wes Phillips and assistant linebackers/defensive quality control coach Dat Nguyen.
The Cowboys will lose defensive line coach Todd Grantham to the University of Georgia, but former three-year assistant Paul Pasqualoni has returned as his replacement. Phillips recommended Pasqualoni to Jones, and a deal was struck within an hour - another strong hint a head coaching change would not be made.
"I had hoped we were there with the culmination of the process, and we weren't, and this (playoff) game showed that," Jones said after the loss to Minnesota. "But we've got ways to go from here and get better and build on the good things we've done this year. We've done some really good things. We've got good people, good players, and I think good direction."
