Former Tennessee Coach Derek Dooley Named Dallas Cowboys Wide Receivers Coach

The rumor had been swirling around for a little over a week that the Cowboys had hired Derek Dooley as their new wide receivers coach.  Neither party could confirm until earlier Monday. The Cowboys made it official earlier today that Dooley will replace former wide receiver coach Jimmy Robinson, who will remain with the team in a consulting role.

Dooley has previous NFL coaching experience when he served as Nick Saban’s tight end coach with the Miami Dolphins during the 2005 and 2006 season.  Current Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett served as the quarterbacks coach for the Dolphins during Dooley’s tenure with the team.

Dooley, who’s wife is from the Fort Worth area, will have a talented group of receivers to work with in Dallas, including Dez Bryant and Miles Austin.  Bryant was one of the leading receivers down the stretch in the NFL.  Austin battled through injuries most of the season but has been one of the better receivers in the NFL over the past few seasons.  Dooley was considered instrumental in developing wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson while at Tennessee. Dooley himself played wide receiver in college at the University of Virginia.  He also served as wide receivers coach at Southern Methodist University from 1997 to 1999.

Tennessee fired Dooley on November 18, 2012 after going a disappointing 15-21 during his three seasons as head coach.  Dooley has been working as an analyst for ESPN since being let go by the Volunteers and will provide analysis for the network’s coverage of National Signing Day on February 6th.