Joe DeCamillis spent four seasons in Dallas. The special teams coordinator saw the ups -- a playoff berth in 2009 -- and the downs -- being injured in the practice facility collapse earlier in 2009 -- and he had hoped for more for the Cowboys during his time here.
"It's a storied franchise," DeCamillis said Wednesday. "There are a lot of good people in that building. It's unfortunate that we didn't quite get it done. The last few games you have a chance to win the division two years in a row, and we just couldn't quite get it done. Unfortunate. I wish I could help more. I certainly enjoyed my time there."DeCamillis was given permission by the Cowboys to leave for Chicago, where he not only will replace Dave Toub as the Bears' special teams coordinator but also will become assistant head coach. Toub left for Andy Reid's staff in Kansas City after failing to land the head coaching job in Chicago.Toub and DeCamillis were two of the 13 known candidates to interview for Chicago's head coaching job left vacant when Lovie Smith was fired. Canadian Football League coach Marc Trestman was hired for the position Wednesday, and he and DeCamillis spoke soon after.DeCamillis has ties to Chicago general manager Phil Emery from when both were in Atlanta."It's one of the great franchises in the league," said DeCamillis, who had a year left on his contract with Dallas. "They've already got a great tradition on special teams that started quite a while ago, how good they are on special teams. I'm hoping I can help any way I can and hopefully add to it. That's what I'd like to do."The Oakland Raiders wanted to hire him as assistant head coach/special teams coach last year, but Dallas denied the move. This time, they let DeCamillis go as the revamping of the coaching staff continues.DeCamillis, 47, is the third assistant coach to leave since the team's 8-8 season ended. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and running backs coach Skip Peete were not retained. Assistant strength and conditioning coach Walt Williams also is moving on.Tight ends coach John Garrett, the brother of coach Jason Garrett, has been encouraged to seek employment elsewhere. Garrett, the team's tight ends coach since 2007, has applied for the head coaching job at the University of Delaware.New defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is working on a defensive staff. He is interviewing the team's current defensive assistants, some of whom could return.Charean Williams817-390-7760Twitter: @NFLChareanHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
