Know Your Dallas Cowboys: The Blog

One of the big news items this week is that the Cowboys hired Dave Campo to serve as secondary coach. I’ve always wondered: how exactly could Campo have played defensive back at Central Connecticut State when he stands at somewhere around 5′4″?

Anyway, Campo’s defenses in the 1990s were solid, thanks largely to the unit’s speed and the presence of Deion Sanders. He has coached some great defensive backs (Bennie Blades at Miami, Kevin Smith at Dallas), so this move may turn out to be a good one.

Campo is one of only two men who served as assistant coaches for the Cowboys both before and after serving as an NFL head coach. The other was Dick Nolan, who left the Cowboys in 1968 to coach the 49ers and then the Saints, only to return to Dallas in 1982. Nolan has the distinction of coaching under both Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson.

If the Cowboys also hire Dom Capers, he will become the eighth assistant in team history who had prior experience as a head coach.

Below are three lists: (1) assistant coaches who were head coaches prior to arriving in Dallas; (2) assistants who became head coaches after leaving Dallas; and (3) a complete list of assistant coaches in the history of the team.

Assistants Who Were Head Coaches Prior to Their Arrival in Dallas

Neill Armstrong (with Cowboys, 1982-89): Head Coach, Chicago Bears (1978-1981), 30-34 record.

Dave Campo (with Cowboys, 1989-2002, 2008-present): Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys (2000-2002), 15-33 record.

Bruce Coslet (with Cowboys, 2002): Head Coach, New York Jets (1990-1993); Head Coach, Cincinnati Bengals (1996-2000); 44-77 record.

Sid Gillman (with Cowboys, 1972): Head Coach, L.A. Rams (1955-1959); Head Coach, L.A. Chargers (AFL) (1960); Head Coach, San Diego Chargers (AFL) (1961-1970); Head Coach, Houston Oilers (1973-1974); 122-99-7 record.

Red Hickey (with Cowboys, 1964-65): Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers (1959-1963), 27-27-1 record.

Dick Nolan (with Cowboys, 1962-1967, 1982-1990): Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers (1968-1975); Head Coach, New Orleans Saints (1978-1980); 69-82-5 record.

Chris Palmer (with Cowboys, 2005): Head Coach, Cleveland Browns (1999-2000), 5-27 record.

Assistants Who Became Head Coaches After Leaving Dallas

Raymond Berry (with Cowboys, 1968-69): Head Coach, New England Patriots (1984-1989), 48-39 record.

Dave Campo (with Cowboys, 1989-2002, 2008-present): Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys (2000-2002), 15-33 record.

Butch Davis (with Cowboys, 1989-1994): Head Coach, Cleveland Browns (2001-2004), 24-34 record.

Mike Ditka (with Cowboys, 1973-1981): Head Coach, Chicago Bears (1982-1992); Head Coach, New Orleans Saints (1997-1999); 121-95 record.

Sid Gillman (with Cowboys, 1972): Head Coach, L.A. Rams (1955-1959); Head Coach, L.A. Chargers (AFL) (1960); Head Coach, San Diego Chargers (AFL) (1961-1970); Head Coach, Houston Oilers (1973-1974); 122-99-7 record.

John Mackovic (with Cowboys, 1981-82): Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs (1983-1986), 30-34 record.

Dick Nolan (with Cowboys, 1962-1967, 1982-1990): Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers (1968-1975); Head Coach, New Orleans Saints (1978-1980); 69-82-5 record.

Sean Payton (with Cowboys, 2003-2005): Head Coach, New Orleans Saints (2006-present)

Dan Reeves (with Cowboys, 1970-1972, 1974-1980): Head Coach, Denver Broncos (1981-1992); Head Coach, N.Y. Giants (1993-1997); Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003); 192-166-2 record.

Dave Shula (with Cowboys, 1989-1990): Head Coach, Cincinnati Bengals (1992-1996), 19-52 record.

Gene Stallings : (with Cowboys, 1972-85): Head Coach, St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1986-1989), 23-34-1 record.

Tony Sparano (with Cowboys, 2003-2007): Head Coach, Miami Dolphins (2008-present)

Norv Turner (with Cowboys, 1991-93): Head Coach, Washington Redskins (1994-2000); Head Coach, Oakland Raiders (2004-2005); Head Coach, San Diego Chargers (2007-present).

Dave Wannstedt (with Cowboys, 1989-92): Head Coach, Chicago Bears (1993-1998); Head Coach, Miami Dolphins (2000-2004); 82-87 record.

Dallas Cowboys Assistant Coaches

Hubbard Alexander: Receivers (1989-97)
Ermal Allen: Offensive Backfield (1962-69); Special Assistant (1970-79); Research and Development (1980-83)
Neill Armstrong: Research and Development (1982-89)
Joe Avezzano: Special Teams (1990-2000); Special Teams/Tight Ends (2001); Special Teams (2002)

Bill Bates: Special Teams/Defensive Assistant (1998-99); Defensive Backs (2000); Defensive Nickel Package/Assistant Special Teams (2001-02)
Jim Bates: Linebackers (1996-97); Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line (1998-99)
Raymond Berry: Offensive Ends (1968-69)
John Blake: Defensive Line (1993-95)
Craig Boiler: Defensive Tackles (1996-97)
Todd Bowles: Secondary (2005-07)
Joe Brodsky: Running Backs (1989-97)
Vincent Brown: Inside Linebackers (2006)

Dave Campo: Defensive Assistant (1989-90); Defensive Backs (1991-94); Defensive Coordinator (1995-99); Secondary (2008-present)
Maurice Carthon: Offensive Coordinator (2003-04)
Wes Chandler: Receivers (2000-02)
Bruce Coslet: Offensive Coordinator (2002)

Tom Dahms: Defensive Line (1960-62)
Butch Davis: Defensive Line (1989-92); Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers (1993); Defensive Coordinator (1994)
Bruce DeHaven: Special Teams (2003-2006)
Babe Dimancheff: Backfield (1960-61)
Mike Ditka: Receivers/Tight Ends (1973-74); Special Teams/Tight Ends (1975-76, 1980); Special Teams/Receivers (1977-79, 1981)

Brad Ecklund: Offensive Line (1960-61); Defensive Line (1962-63)
Jim Eddy: Defensive Assistant (1993); Linebackers (1994-95)
George Edwards: Linebackers (1998-01)
Jim Erkenbeck: Offensive Line (1987-88)

Robert Ford: Tight Ends (1991-97)
Bobby Franklin: Defensive Backfield (1968-71); Special Teams (1972)

Jason Garrett: Offensive Coordinator (2007-present)
John Garrett: Tight Ends (2007-present)
Buddy Geis: Quarterbacks (1998-99); Offensive Nickel Package (2000)
Gary Gibbs: Linebackers (2002-05)
Sid Gillman: Special Assistant (1972)
Todd Grantham: Defensive Line (2008-present)

Paul Hackett: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Receivers (1986); Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (1987-88)
Todd Haley: Receivers (2004-2005); Receivers/Passing Game (2006)
Galen Hall: Running Backs (2002)
Tommy Hart: Defensive Ends (1996-97)
Red Hickey: Offensive Ends (1964-65)
Steve Hoffman: Kickers/Quality Control (1989-2004)
Hudson Houck: Offensive Line (1993-01, 2008-present)
Ed Hughes: Offensive Backfield (1973-74, 1976); Quarterbacks/Receivers (1975)

Jim Jeffcoat: Defensive Line Assistant (1998-99); Defensive Ends (2000-04)
Joe Juraszek: Strength and Conditioning (1997-present)

Freddie Kitchens: Tight Ends (2006)

Al Lavan: Running Backs (1980-88)
David Lee: Offensive Assistant/Quality Control (2003-04); Quarterbacks/Offensive Quality Control (2005); Offensive Quality Control (2006)
Alan Lowry: Special Teams (1982-86); Receivers (1987-88); Special Teams/Tight Ends (1989); Tight Ends (1990)
Anthony Lynn: Running Backs (2005-06)

Mike MacIntyre: Assistant Secondary (2003-04); Assistant Secondary/Defensive Quality Control (2005); Safeties (2006)
John Mackovic: Quarterbacks (1981-82)
John McNulty: Wide Receivers (2003)
Ron Meeks: Defensive Assistant (1991)
Les Miles: Tight Ends (1998-2000)
Jim Myers: Offensive Line (1962-72); Offensive Coordinator (1973-74); Offensive Coodinator/Offensive Line (1975-76); Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line (1977-86)

Dat Nguyen: Assistant Linebackers/Defensive Quality Control (2007)
Dick Nolan: Defensive Backfield (1962-67); Receivers (1982-85); Defensive Backs (1986-90)

Dwain Painter: Receivers (1998-99)
Chris Palmer: Quarterbacks (2006)
Paul Pasqualoni: Tight Ends (2005); Linebackers (2006-07)
Andre Patterson: Defensive Tackles (2000-02)
Sean Payton: Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks (2003-04); Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator (2005)
Skip Peete: Running Backs (2007)
Clancy Pendergast: Defensive Assistant/Quality Control (1996-99); Defensive Nickel Package (2000); Defensive Backs (2001-02)
Wes Phillips: Offensive Assistant/Offensive Quality Control (2007)

Bruce Read: Special Teams (2007)
Dan Reeves: Offensive Backfield (1970-72, 1975); Special Teams (1974); Quarterbacks/Receivers (1976); Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Backs (1977-79); Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Receivers (1980)
Jack Reilly: Quarterbacks (1997); Offensive Coordinator (2000-01)
Ray Renfro: Passing Offense (1968-72)
Jerry Rhome: Quarterbacks (1989)
Tommie Robinson: Offensive Assistant (1998-99); Special Teams Assistant (2000)
Kacy Rodgers: Defensive Tackles (2003-04); Defensive Line (2005-07)
Alvin Roy: Strength and Conditioning (1973-75)

Greg Seamon: Tight Ends (2002)
Clarence Shelmon: Running Backs (1998-2001)
Ray Sherman: Wide Receivers (2007)
Jim Shofner: Quarterbacks (1983-85)
Dave Shula: Offensive Coordinator (1989); Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (1990)
Bob Slowik: Defensive Assistant (1992)
Glenn Smith: Offensive Assistant (2000-01)
Mike Solari: Special Teams (1987-88)
Tony Sparano: Tight Ends (2003-04); Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line (2005); Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line/Running Game (2006); Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line (2007)
Ernie Stautner: Defensive Line (1966-72); Defensive Coordinator (1973-74); Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line (1975-88)
Brian Stewart: Defensive Coordinator (2007)

Jerry Tubbs: Linebackers (1966-88)
Norv Turner: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (1991-93)

Frank Verducci: Offensive Line (2002)

Dave Wannstedt: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers (1989-92)
Bob Ward: Strength and Conditioning (1976-89)
George Warhop: Offensive Line (2003-04)
Wade Wilson: Quarterbacks (2000-02, 2007)
Tony Wise: Offensive Line (1989-92)
Mike Woicik: Strength and Conditioning (1990-96)

Ernie Zampese: Offensive Coordinator (1994-97)
Mike Zimmer: Defensive Assistant (1994); Defensive Backs (1995-99); Defensive Coordinator (2000-2006)