IRVING, Texas – The Redskins' search for a new head coach will go through the Dallas coaching staff.
Cowboys special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is interviewing for the vacancy in Washington, where he's got history with Redskins general manager Bruce Allen dating back to their time together in Tampa Bay.
The Redskins asked for permission to speak with Bisaccia and were granted by the Cowboys, although NFL rules state that teams must allow all assistant coaches to interview for a vacant head coaching position. However, teams can blocks assistants under contract to meet with other teams for any other coaching position.
Bisaccia coached primarily special teams while working with the Buccaneers from 2002-10. After working with special teams from 2002-07, he then added the responsibilities of associate head coach and running backs in 2008 before spending his last two seasons as the associate head coach and special teams coach.
He then coached the Chargers' special teams units for two seasons, adding assistant head coaching duties in San Diego in 2012, prior to a brief stint in January 2013 at Auburn. The Tigers allowed Bisaccia to return to the professional ranks and go to the Cowboys, where he replaced former special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, who's now in Chicago.
Head coach Jason Garrett always preaches the necessity to be good in all three phases of the game, and one could easily make the argument special teams was the team's best phase this season. Dwayne Harris ranked in the top three in the league in both kick return and punt return average, and Dan Bailey's leg strength increased while his pinpoint accuracy stayed consistent. [embedded_ad]
Bisaccia had a lot of familiarity with the coaching staff in Dallas, particularly with defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli. They all coached together previously in Tampa Bay, and Bisaccia stayed in touch with Marinelli even after the trio left.
In the offseason, Bisaccia recalled a story about going to grab a casual cup of coffee with Marinelli after their time together in Tampa Bay before leaving with two notebooks full of notes after a three-hour visit.
"I'm fortunate to be back with Rod, and certainly be with Monte, but my respect for Rod and the way he coaches on the field and his demeanor and the way he handles his meetings, I've learned so much from him," Bisaccia said in the offseason. "Whatever he said about me, I'm going to try to live up to it. If that's what I am, then that's great. I'm going to do that the best I can."
It's always been important to Bisaccia to be around coaches and staff members that he knows. Bisaccia spent four years with Marinelli and seven years with Kiffin in Tampa Bay.
"The three of us love football," he said." I've been married to the same gal for 29 years. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I have ball and I go home. This is my hobby, it's my passion, it's a calling to some degree, and really those two guys are the same way."
