IRVING – The Cowboys officially named Jason Garrett their offensive coordinator on Tuesday and signed assistant head coach Tony Sparano to an extension, bringing the team closer to completing its coaching staff.
The team also wants to hire a quarterbacks coach, though coach Wade Phillips wasn't sure if that would happen.
Sparano, who called the plays last season, is signed through 2009. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Owner/general manager Jerry Jones said he values Sparano greatly and wanted to retain him. Last year, the Cowboys denied Sparano an opportunity to become New Orleans' offensive coordinator. Earlier this year, Dallas wouldn't let Cleveland speak with Sparano about becoming the offensive line coach.
"We're excited about him being here," Phillips said on a conference call with reporters. "He's done such a great job here we felt certainly he deserves to be assistant head coach. We want him to carry on his duties as offensive line coach."
Sparano was in charge of an offensive line that sent center Andre Gurode and left tackle Flozell Adams to the Pro Bowl.
Garrett was hired by the Cowboys on Jan. 25 after he interviewed for the head-coaching job. But his job responsibilities weren't determined until now.
"All the good ones are pretty much the same," Phillips said. "It's been my experience in the league guys that are really good you can recognize it pretty quickly and I think he's one of those guys."
Garrett was a quarterbacks coach for two seasons at Miami before getting elevated to a coordinator with Dallas.
"It took me five years to be a coordinator, and I did all right," Phillips said. "And I think he's ready."
Phillips said he hopes to complete his entire staff during the scouting combine in Indianapolis this week. The team is close to hiring a special teams coach and a defensive coordinator.
Phillips is attempting to hire San Diego Chargers secondary coach Brian Stewart and assistant linebackers and quality control coach John Pagano. Phillips was denied permission to officially interview Stewart and Pagano two weeks ago. After Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired on Feb. 12, Phillips decided to make another run them.
New Chargers coach Norv Turner said he wants to retain all the current assistant coaches, but Pagano and Stewart are trying to get released from their contracts.
If Stewart is allowed out of his contract, Phillips would hire him as the defensive coordinator in Dallas.
Phillips said he likes Cowboys' secondary coach Todd Bowles, who could become the defensive coordinator.
But Stewart's familiarly with Phillips' 3-4 defense allows the Cowboys to make a smooth transition from the way ex-Cowboys coach Bill Parcells ran his defense.
