IRVING – The first full day of the Cowboys' coaching search began Tuesday, and Jerry Jones' focus was on the coaches he knows best.
According to several sources, Jones met with offensive assistants Tony Sparano and Todd Haley as well as secondary coach Todd Bowles as possible replacements for Bill Parcells, who resigned Monday.
Sparano, Haley and Bowles are all under contract with the Cowboys through 2007. Sparano is the only one of the three with head coaching experience, spending five years at Division II New Haven (1994-98).
A day after he retired, Parcells was at Valley Ranch. He is serving as a sounding board for Jones, who is looking for his fifth head coach in 18 years.
According to the agents for former NFL head coaches Wade Phillips, Mike Martz, Mike Sherman and Jim Mora, they have not been contacted yet by the Cowboys. Phillips said he is interested in the job.
At the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Martz, who spent last season as Detroit's offensive coordinator, also said he would be interested in the position. In six years with St. Louis, Martz had a 53-32 record and made the playoffs four times, including a trip to Super Bowl XXXVI where the Rams lost to New England.
Martz and Jones got to know each other from their work with the NFL's competition committee.
A name to keep an eye on is former Cowboys' quarterback Jason Garrett, who is Miami's quarterbacks coach. Jones has admired Garrett for some time and his father, Jim, was a long-time scout for the Cowboys.
Garrett could be a possibility as an offensive coordinator, although the Dolphins would have to release him from his contract. Earlier this month, Miami denied Cleveland permission to speak with Garrett regarding its coordinator position. Reached in Mobile, Ala., on Tuesday, Garrett declined comment.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who is under contract with Tennessee in 2007, won't be a candidate for the Cowboys' job.
"We haven't been contacted by Dallas," Titans chief executive officer Steve Underwood said in a statement Tuesday. "In the event that we were, there are no circumstances that we would grant permission to the Cowboys to speak with coach Fisher."
On the college front, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops took his name out of contention before it was really even in it.
"To end speculation here in the heart of recruiting, I want to make it clear that I am not interested in any other coaching positions at this time," Stoops said in a statement. "I am too excited about our future at Oklahoma and the program we're continuing to build."
National signing day is Feb. 7.
Sparano joined the Cowboys in 2003, Parcells' first season, as tight ends coach. He was moved to offensive line in 2005 and became the running game coordinator. Sean Payton attempted to bring Sparano with him to New Orleans last year as offensive coordinator, but Parcells blocked the move.
In the end that turned out to be a blessing of sorts for Sparano, who was given the assistant head coach title. He called plays for the Cowboys and oversaw an offense, with Haley, who was promoted to passing game coordinator, that averaged 26.6 points per game and had a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers for only the second time in franchise history.
Cleveland was recently denied permission to speak with Sparano regarding its offensive line job. Anthony Lynn, who has served as the Cowboys running backs coach the last two seasons, is scheduled to fly to Mobile today and meet with the Browns about an assistant's job.
Haley joined the Cowboys in 2004 as receivers coach after three seasons with Chicago. He has the closest ties to Parcells, having worked for him with the New York Jets from 1997-2000. His father, Dick, was the former director of player personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1971-90 and Jets from 1991-2002.
A fiery coach, Haley and Terrell Owens had several run-ins during the course of the season, but he has a solid relationship with Terry Glenn and former Cowboy Keyshawn Johnson. Arizona has expressed interest in bringing Haley in as an offensive coordinator, but the Cardinals would need permission to speak to him. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and Haley worked together with the Jets.
Bowles also has a Parcells' tie, working for the Jets in 2000 as a defensive backs coach when Parcells was the Jets' chief football operating officer. A former defensive back with Washington and San Francisco, he joined the Cowboys in 2005 and is well respected among the players.
Bowles' interview would allow the Cowboys to comply with the NFL's "Rooney Rule," which states that a team with a head coaching vacancy must interview a minority candidate.
Jones has promoted from within before, bumping up Dave Campo from defensive coordinator in 2001. Campo, however, had a 15-33 record as coach, prompting Jones to go after Parcells.
Staff Writer Calvin Watkins contributed to this report.
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com
