Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Wade Phillips was hired as coach by the Dallas Cowboys to replace Bill Parcells, the fifth time he has been picked to lead a National Football League team.

Phillips, the 59-year-old son of former coach Bum Phillips, was chosen by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after 2 1/2-week search that began with Parcells' retirement announcement Jan. 22. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Last season, Phillips was defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers, a team that had a league-high 61 sacks and the NFL's best record at 14-2. He has a 48-39 record as an NFL head coach, losing all three playoff appearances.

``Our team is best served now by a head coach with NFL experience,'' Jones said at a televised news conference. ``In addition to being a proven winning head coach, Wade brings an impressive resume of defensive expertise and production to the table.''

Phillips was 16-16 as coach of the Denver Broncos in 1993- 94, making the playoffs in his first year. He was 29-19 with the Buffalo Bills from 1998-2000, with two more playoff appearances.

Phillips also worked as interim coach with the New Orleans Saints in 1985, taking over when his father quit, and the Atlanta Falcons in 2003, when Dan Reeves was fired.

Phillips's father coached the Houston Oilers, and the son was born in Orange, Texas. He later coached high school football in the state.

``It's great to have these cowboy boots back in Texas, because I'm a Cowboy now and I'm proud of it,'' Phillips said at the news conference. ``You ever read about a frog who dreamed of becoming a king and became one? Well, I was a high school coach here in Texas and now I'm coach of the Dallas Cowboys. That's the way I feel.''

Job Hunt

Jones interviewed at least 10 candidates for the coaching job, according to the Dallas Morning News, including Norv Turner, offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, who held that post with the Cowboys from 1991-1993.

Other candidates included Jason Garrett, hired by the team for an unspecified position last month; Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera; Indianapolis assistant head coach coach Jim Caldwell; New Orleans defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs; 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary; and three members of Parcells' staff: Tony Sparano, Todd Bowles and Todd Haley.

As an assistant with San Diego, Phillips used the same configuration of three linemen and four linebackers that Parcells and the Cowboys used.

Parcells, who won two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants, said he was retiring from coaching for the third time with one year left on his four-year contract with Dallas. The Cowboys lost in the first round of the playoffs twice under Parcells, including a 21-20 loss to Seattle on Jan. 6.

To contact the reporter on this story: Aaron Kuriloff in New York at akuriloff@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: February 8, 2007 18:29 EST