IRVING, Texas -- The Rob Ryan wait is over.
The Dallas Cowboys have officially announced that Ryan is new coach Jason Garrett's defensive coordinator after interviewing on Friday and agreeing to the job over the weekend. The team did not divulge the length of Ryan's contract.
Ryan arrived at the team's Valley Ranch facility Wednesday morning for work. Garrett interviewed Vic Fangio and Greg Manusky for the coordinator spot before talking to Ryan. Fangio joined San Francisco and Manusky joined San Diego, while Paul Pasqualoni, who finished the year as Cowboys defensive coordinator, left to be the head coach at the University of Connecticut.
Ryan has been a coordinator for the past seven years in Oakland (2004-08) and Cleveland (2009-10) after winning two Super Bowl rings as New England's linebackers coach from 2000-2003.
Ryan will continue to run the 3-4 scheme the Cowboys have employed since 2005.
The Browns had the 22nd-ranked defense in 2010, allowing 350.1 yards, which was an improvement of nine spots from 2009, and 20.8 points per game. The Browns tied for eighth in the NFL with 19 interceptions with six players having more than two interceptions. The Browns allowed only seven rushing touchdowns, which tied for the fourth-fewest in the league. In 2009, the Browns had 40 sacks, which tied for eighth in the NFL.
Ryan takes over a defense that collapsed in 2010. The Cowboys allowed 436 points, which is a franchise record, and 351.8 yards per game. Under Pasqualoni the points-per-game improved slightly but the Cowboys forced 20 turnovers in his eight-game stint.
Todd Archer covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com.