Phillips Fired! Could a College Coach Help the Dallas Cowboys Get Back On Track?

The Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a permanent Head Coach over the next few months. Jason Garrett, the team's Offensive Coordinator has been moved in to the Interim role.

Most likely, Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, will hire someone who has extensive NFL experience and success. If he hasn't already talked to Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden or Brian Billick, he probably will be doing so soon.

However, Jerry Jones loves to "go a different direction." He likes to do things that create a Big Splash and that draw a lot of attention his way.

What would do that more than to disregard some conventional choices and go instead with hiring a college coach. He did it once with Jimmy Johnson, and that turned into a Super Bowl.

IF, and that would be a huge IF...Jerry went in this direction, who would he look at? The following coaches might be on his short list:

Nick Saban

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide watches a play during the game against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty

If there is one college Head Coach that would be considered as a candidate for an NFL job, it would be Nick Saban.

Saban led LSU to the 2003 national championship, and Alabama to the 2009 BCS and AP Championship, making him the only coach in the poll era to win a national championship with two different schools. He has been selected twice as AP National Coach of the Year. His collegiate coaching record is presently 131–52–1.

In between those successful runs at separate SEC schools, Saban was the Miami Dolphins Head Coach for two seasons. His record for the Dolphins was 15-17. 

Saban is considered a part of the Bill Belichick coaching tree, having worked for him on the Cleveland Browns.

Saban's assistant coaching experience was on the Defensive side of the ball. His teams have always been known for being aggressive and hard-hitting.

Bob Stoops

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Bob Stoops of the Oklahoma Sooners looks up to the scoreboard with less than a minute to go in the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Land Shark Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami d

In his 11th year as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, Bob Stoops has a record of 117–28 (.807).

In his entire tenure at OU, he has only lost two home games, and currently holds the nation's longest home winning streak at 33 consecutive games.

He also has the most wins of the decade of any BCS school with 109 (2000–present).

He has twice been named National Coach of the Year.

Stoops cut his coaching teeth as a Defensive assistant (Kansas State) or a Defensive Coordinator (Kansas State and Florida). 

Stoops has been the target of several different NFL coaching searches, but has turned down every opportunity to be considered.

Stoops had some incredible early bowl-game success at OU (the Sooners won the National Championship in his second year) but they have struggled in more recent years (losing 5 of their last 7 bowl games).

If Jerry Jones comes calling this time, will "Big Game Bob" be able to say "No" again?

Dave Wannstedt

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 26: Head coach Dave Wannstedt of the Pittsburgh Panthers smiles before the start of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels on December 26, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

When Jimmy Johnson was hired as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, Dave Wannstedt joined Dallas' staff as defensive coordinator. The Cowboys defense was considered one of the best in the NFL under Wannstedt's leadership. Two years after the Cowboys went 1-15, they won the 1992 Super Bowl.

Wannstedt's success as the Dallas Defensive Coordinator propelled him into the Chicago Bears Head Coaching position. In six seasons, he was 40-52.

After being fired in Chicago, Wannstedt once again joined Jimmy Johnson's staff, this time for the Miami Dolphins.

After one year, Johnson retired and Wannstedt was named as his successor. His run as the Dolphins Head Coach was more successful than his time in Chicago. His record in Miami was 42-31.

Wannstedt is currently in his sixth season as the Head Coach of the Pitt Panthers. His record there is presently 38-27.

I do not know whether Wannstedt is interested in returning to the NFL, but he might like to go back to where he won a Super Bowl championship as a D.C.

Bo Pelini

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LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 25: Coach Bo Pelini of the Nebraska Cornuskers eyes his defensive coaching slaff during second half action of their game against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Memorial Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Neb

Bo Pelini has only been a Head Coach at one place (Nebraska) for a short amount of time (two-and-a-half years) but he has quite a bit of experience that could make him an interesting candidate for an NFL job...or more specifically, the Dallas Cowboys job.

After working for a year as a graduate assistant for Hayden Frye at Iowa, and as QB Coach for his high school (Cardinal Mooney, the same school the Stoops brother came from), Pelini was hired by George Seifert on the San Francisco 49ers staff. In his second year, the 49ers won the Super Bowl.

After three years, Pelini moved on to work on Pete Carrol's New England Patriots staff for three more years. New England reached the playoffs two of Pelini's three years.

And then, Pelini worked three more years for Mike Sherman in Green Bay. The Packers posted a 33–15 record and reached the playoffs twice in Pelini's three years as linebackers coach.

The following five years took Pelini into the college game. He was Defensive Coordinator for Nebraska, Oklahoma and then LSU...Not a bad run, right?

And then, after 16 years of paying his dues as an assistant coach, Bo Pelini was hired to revive the historic program at Nebraska. In the last two-and-a-half seasons, the Cornhuskers are 28-9 and they have won three straight bowl games.

Every place Pelini goes, teams win. And isn't that what it's all about, Jerry?

Jim Tressel

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COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 11: Head Coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches his team play against the Miami Hurricanes at Ohio Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Jim Tressel is another coach that just wins. He has won 5 National Championships (1 at Ohio State, 4 1-AA championships at Youngstown State).

His coaching record is 237-79-2.

While his teams are known for their tough defenses, Tressel's coaching background before becoming a head coach was on the offensive side of the ball.

"Tressel-Ball" emphasizes conservative ball-control and field position. But, the Buckeyes still put points on the board. They currently are ranked #7 in the country in Scoring Offense.

While being one of the winningest active coaches in college football, one of the things that might hurt Tressel is that his teams have not done well in their bowl games (5-4).

Who Will Jerry Choose?

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SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 21: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on August 21, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Jerry Jones desperately once to get things back on track in Big D. He has rarely done things the way that others owners or (GMs) have done before.

If Jerry has his first choice, he will have a Head Coach that has already won a Super Bowl...in order to get the Cowboys back there too.

But just in case things don't work out that way, maybe he should look on campus at these prime candidates!!!!