Texans Hire Wade Phillips To Run Defense
HOUSTON (Sports Network) - The Houston Texans have hired former Cowboys coach Wade Phillips as their new defensive coordinator.
The move was made Wednesday, just two days after the Texans fired former defensive coordinator Frank Bush and three other coaches while saying head coach Gary Kubiak would return for a sixth season.
Phillips and Kubiak will be on the same sideline for the second time, as their tenures overlapped with the Denver Broncos from 1989-91. Kubiak played for the club from 1983-91 and Phillips served as defensive coordinator from 1989-92 before taking over as the franchise's head coach from 1993-94.
The 63-year-old Phillips was fired by the Cowboys in November after a 1-7 start. In three-plus seasons with Dallas, Phillips compiled a 34-22 mark. The Cowboys won the NFC East twice with Phillips at the helm, including the club's first playoff win since 1996 during the 2009 season.
He brings 35 years of coaching experience to the Texans, with 20 of those years coming as defensive coordinator for the Saints, Eagles, Broncos, Falcons and Chargers.
Phillips has also been a head coach of the Broncos (1993-1994) and Bills (1998-2000). He served as interim head coach of the Saints (1985) and Falcons (2003).
He owns a career coaching record of 83-66, including the postseason.
Phillips played linebacker at the University of Houston from 1966-68 and coached for the Cougars in 1969.
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