Wade Phillips: If Dallas Cowboys Fire Coach, Who Replaces Him?

Wade Phillips has a job security problem now that the Dallas Cowboys has fallen to 1-5 and have lost their starting quarterback, Tony Romo. But if he's fired, who replaces him?

There are a lot of possibilities, and a lot of candidates for the job. Jerry Jones is a hands-on owner, but he hasn't had that many coaching changes and has stuck with Phillips long after everyone thought Phillips would've been gone.

So who might be the next leader of the Dallas Cowboys? Click on to find out.

15. Mike Leach

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 19: Head coach Mike Leach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during play against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

If Jerry Jones decides to look through the college ranks for a head coach, the only name that really makes any sense at this point would be Mike Leach.

Leach formerly was the head coach for Texas Tech and was known for his powerful offenses. With Jones' emphasis on a powerful offense, that automatically makes Leach a person of interest.

Leach's departure from Texas Tech would have no bearing on Jones' interest or disinterest as that was all off-field issues that currently are being litigated.

On the field, Leach was a winner and that's all Jones cares about at this point.

14. Brad Childress

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - OCTOBER 7: Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress answers questions from the media during a press conference at Winter Park on October 7, 2010 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

If the Vikings' season goes south, there's a good chance Brad Childress finds himself looking for work.

With two years under his belt now dealing with the Brett Favre circus and all of the off-field distractions he brings, that makes him a great candidate for the Cowboys job.

Childress has had success in Minnesota and was one Brett Favre interception away from making the Super Bowl last year.

Childress would be a natural candidate for Jones to consider.

13. Steve Mariucci

A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Steve Mariucci and Steve Young before Super Bowl XLI between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida on February 4, 2007. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Steve Mariucci had two head coaching stints, one with the San Francisco 49ers and one with the Detroit Lions.

Mariucci had a good record in San Francisco but lost his job after the 2002 season, reportedly due to a power struggle with then general manager Terry Donahue.

He then coached the Detroit Lions, but that was under Matt Millen's watch, so I'm not sure that really counts.

Mariucci has been with the NFL Network the past few years, but if Jones can convince him to get back on the field, Mariucci has proved he can take teams to the playoffs.

12. Dick Jauron

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 25: Coach Dick Jauron and Ashlee Palmer of the Buffalo Bills leave the field after a game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Buffalo won 20-9. (Photo by Grant

Dick Jauron was fired as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills last year, but people need to remember the Bills organization isn't very good right now.

Jauron didn't have a superstar quarterback and the front office has its own issues it's still trying to sort out.

Jauron has had one winning season as a head coach with the Chicago Bears. But with a solid organization behind him, which Jerry Jones can provide, Jauron could become a good head coach.

11. Brian Billick

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Former head coach Brian Billick of the Baltimore Ravens attends the IRTS Gold Metal Award Gala September 18, 2008 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Brian Billick is another guy who has had a lot of success with one team but now has spent a few years out of the game as a broadcast analyst.

Billick coached the Ravens from 1999-2007, which included a Super Bowl win.

Billick came up through the offensive ranks. But it was the lack of offense that got him fired. Still, a few years off can do wonders for a coach, so there's no reason to think Billick couldn't lead the Cowboys to another Super Bowl.

10. Eric Mangini

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns watches a play during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Eric Mangini's hot seat in Cleveland may have cooled after the Browns upset the defending Super Bowl-champion New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but that doesn't mean his job is safe at the end of the year.

The Browns offense still is pretty anemic, and despite the discipline Mangini has instilled on the team, the Browns still don't have the wins to show for it. It's possible Holmgren may decide to come out of the skybox next year and coach the team himself.

Mangini's discipline is exactly what the Cowboys need at this point and that factor will intrigue Jerry Jones.

9. Bill Cowher

Kevin Cox/Getty Images

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 11: Former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher attends the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils on February 11, 2009 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin Cox/Gett

Bill Cowher's name comes up on any owner's list when looking for a new head coach. The problem is Cowher is going to want a lot more power than Jerry Jones is willing to give out at this point.

Cowher may be looking for Bill Parcell's-type roster-control powers and complete control over the draft, so that's going to cause friction in the negotiating room should Jones pursue him.

From a pure control standpoint, Cowher stays low on this list.

8. John Fox

Geoff Burke/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Head coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers watches from the sidelines against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

There's little doubt John Fox's time in Carolina is coming to a close, as the 2010 season rapidly is going nowhere for the Panthers.

With a young quarterback in Jimmy Clausen, the Panthers ownership may want to find a fresh voice in the locker room as Fox finishes his ninth year with the team.

Fox has a winning percentage of .537 going into this week's game, so Jones will like the fact he wins more than he loses. His percentage is being dragged down this year by the lack of talent on the Panthers.

7. Rob Ryan

NFL Photos/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - 2009: Rob Ryan of the Cleveland Browns poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by NFL Photos)

The twin brother of Jets head coach Rex Ryan, Rob Ryan put his name on the future head-coach list last Sunday by putting together a defensive scheme that completely flummoxed Drew Brees and embarrassed the New Orleans Saints.

Jones will factor the success of the Ryan family into the equation. Then add the fact that Rob Ryan has been able to put together a decent defense in Cleveland with almost no real talent and a lot of young, inexperienced guys.

6. Jim Fassel

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 19: Commentator Jim Fassel during warmups as the Seattle Seahawks play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 19, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Jim Fassel wants another head-coaching job in the NFL, but after losing his job in New York because of losing to teams the Giants had no business losing to, especially in the postseason, and then coaching the Ravens offense to two sub-par years, he's now a head coach in the UFL.

What Jones might be looking for is the experience factor, and the desire Fassel will have to prove all his critics wrong by getting redemption in Dallas. Fassel has had a few years to reflect on everything and that could be the difference between what went wrong before and what could happen in the future.

5. Brian Schottenheimer

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

FLORHAM PARK, NJ - MAY 02: Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer of the New York Jets speaks to the media during minicamp on May 2, 2009 at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Son of the great coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian brings youth to the table and the offensive smarts Jerry Jones wants in his coaches.

Dallas has a lot of offensive weapons but nothing that really has been utilized well this season. Up until his injury, Romo was throwing well, but there wasn't a lot to show for it. As for the running game, your guess is as good as mine as to why the Cowboys decided to shut down the run this year.

Schottenheimer has a lot of good qualities and most likely will be a head coach at some point, maybe in Dallas.

4. Jason Garrett

Larry French/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 27: Assistant head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys coaches against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on December 27, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 17-0. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Im

Jason Garrett was supposed to be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys a few years ago, but Wade Phillips ended up staying.

With all the coaching mistakes this season, any agreement Garrett may have with Jones is a moot point. But Garrett could argue that Phillips was the problem and that his hands have been tied.

As close as Jones is to the situation, this is a real quandary for the owner because he has the inside info on how much Garrett may or may not be responsible for the Cowboys' current situation.

3. Mike Martz

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - OCTOBER 24: Offensive coordinator Mike Martz of the Chicago Bears watches a play against the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field on October 24, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Redskins defeated the Bears 17-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Im

Mike Martz is the current offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. The Bears haven't had a good year offensively, but other than the offensive line allowing Jay Cutler to be destroyed when he's not throwing picks, what is there to nitpick?

Martz coached several teams, including the Rams' 'Greatest Show on Turf,' to the Super Bowl, but his offenses haven't been as good in recent years.

However, Martz probably would work well with a healthy Tony Romo, and Jones has to figure that possibility into the equation.

2. Jim Haslett

Win McNamee/Getty Images

ASHBURN, VA - JULY 30: Defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Washington Redskins works out with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett (R) following practice on the second day of training camp July 30, 2010 in Ashburn, Virginia. Haynesworth failed a

Jim Haslett also has quite the resume and currently is the defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins.

Haslett was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2000 for his work in turning around the New Orleans Saints and he lost his job in the wake of the disastrous year following Hurricane Katrina.

Haslett has good experience. Despite his losing record over his last few seasons as a head coach, he has the tools to be successful again.

1. Jon Gruden

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 28: Coach Jon Gruden of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers directs play against the Oakland Raiders at Raymond James Stadium on December 28, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Jon Gruden is another sexy name that tends to pop up whenever a team indicates it is looking for a new head coach.

Gruden is good with quarterbacks and does have a Super Bowl ring. Gruden also brings the spotlight with him and Jerry Jones doesn't mind sharing the spotlight as long as it sells tickets, luxury suites and merchandise.

If Gruden can return the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, even better.