After a one-year hiatus from the league, Dan Henning has returned to the
NFL, as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.
Henning had been set to join the Tampa Bay staff until Bill Parcells opted
not to accept the head coach job with the Buccaneers. The Panthers first
offered the coordinator post to Charlie Weis of New England, but he decided
to stay on as the Patriots offensive boss.
Panthers rookie head coach John Fox, a close friend of Henning, then phoned
him to gauge his interest in returning to the league.
Henning, 59, last worked on Al Groh's staff with the New York Jets in 2000.
He lost his job when Groh resigned to become head coach at the University of
Virginia and Herm Edwards then was named as the Jets' head coach.
The veteran coach brings a world of experience to what will be a young Panthers
staff and his presence should speed the development of quarterback Chris
Weinke, who started as a rookie in 2001. Henning will also serve as the
quarterbacks coach.
As head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (1983-86) and San Diego Chargers
(1989-91), Henning compiled a 38-73-1 record. Henning was also head coach at
Boston College (1994-96), but is actually better known for his work as a
coordinator and a quarterbacks mentor.
Among the head coaches for whom he worked are Joe Gibbs, Don Shula and
Parcells.
"Dan Henning is viewed as one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL.
He has knowledge and experience and will be a great asset to our offense,"
said Fox. "He has worked with a variety of quarterbacks and offensive
styles, which will provide great flexibility to what we are able to do
offensively, and most of all, he has been productive."
A native of Queens, NY, Henning played college football at William and Mary
where he ranked 14th in the nation in passing yardage as a senior. He
coached at Florida State and Virginia Tech and began coaching in the NFL
with the Houston Oilers in 1972 and worked with the Dolphins, Chargers,
Bills, and Lions as well as the Redskins and Jets.
In other coaching news:
ESPN.com has learned that the Jacksonville Jaguars have offered Pittsburgh
Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements the position of offensive
coordinator. Clements interviewed last week with Buffalo, and will talk with
Bills officials again Thursday night, but is expected to accept the
Jacksonville post on Friday. Apparently coach Tom Coughlin has offered
Clements a good deal of automony over the offense.
Cam Cameron, recently fired as head coach at Indiana University,
interviewed earlier this week for the Bills offensive coordinator post,
ESPN.com has learned. Cameron is also a candidate for the Tampa Bay
offensive coordinator job under Marvin Lewis. He was 18-37 in five seasons
at Indiana and served as quarterbacks coach of the Washington Redskins for
three seasons (1994-96). Cameron is said to have had a "very impressive"
interview with the Bills.
Longtime league offensive assistant Jimmy Raye, the coordinator for the
Washington Redskins, is another candidate for that position with the Bucs.
The team is considering former Skins wide receivers coach Richard Mann for
the same position on the staff. Dallas Cowboys assistant Clarence Shelmon is
likely to be named as the Bucs running backs coach.
Cincinnati hired former NFL standout safety Darren Perry, who played 10
seasons in Pittsburgh and New Orleans, as its safety coach. He replaces Ray
Horton who resigned shortly after the end of the season. Perry had
interviewed last week. The team also announced that tight end coach Frank
Verducci, who interviewed last week for the offensive line coach position
with the Dallas Cowboys, will remain with the Bengals.
Former Texas A&M safety Dennis Allen was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as
the quality control coach on defense. Allen served four seasons (1996-99) on
the staff at his alma mater and then was on the Tulsa staff for two years
(2000-2001). He replaces Thom Kaumeyer, who left the Falcons to become
defensive coordinator at San Diego State.
The San Diego Chargers hired four assistants: Jerry Holmes (secondary),
Brian Schottenheimer (quarterbacks), Greg Manusky (linebackers) and Dave
Redding (strength and conditioning). It now appears that Marty
Schottenheimer has lost out on his top candidate to be the Chargers new
defensive coordinator, since Chicago linebackers coach Dale Lindsey is
leaning toward signing a contract extension with the Bears.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
