Cameron New Coach Of the Dolphins

San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has excepted the job to become the new head coach for the Miami Dolphins.

Cameron will try to succeed where Nick Saban failed. Cameron signed a four-year contract Friday and left his job as offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers to become the Dolphins' fifth coach since Don Shula retired in 1995.

Cameron was one of at least 13 candidates to interview with the Dolphins over the last two weeks.

Saban left for Alabama after a 6-10 season and missed the playoffs in both years with Miami. He left behind an aging defense and a feeble offense.

Cameron insisted he has great respect for Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, but said he will call the offensive plays.

Cameron was an assistant at the University of Michigan for nearly a decade before going 18-37 as a head coach at Indiana, then directed a high-powered attack in San Diego. Led by the NFL's most valuable player, LaDainian Tomlinson, the Chargers ranked fourth in the league in offense this season and finished 14-2, best in the NFL.

An offensive-minded coach appealed to the Dolphins, who averaged 16.3 points per game in 2006, their lowest figure since 1967.

Other candidates on Miami's list included Miami defensive coordinator Dom Capers, former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora, Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey and former Alabama coach Mike Shula, son of Don Shula.

Gailey said Friday he will stay at Georgia Tech.

Cameron, 45, inherits one of the NFL's largest coaching staffs and general manager Randy Mueller, who will be given more responsibility under the new regime. He also will have Capers, who signed a new contract -- believed to be a three-year pact worth at least $8.1 million -- this week.

Cameron met with the staff Friday and will interview each assistant over the weekend.

Cameron also interviewed this month for top jobs with the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons. Arizona hired Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, and Atlanta hired Louisville coach Bobby Petrino.

Before joining the Chargers in 2002, Cameron was head coach at his alma mater, Indiana, from 1997 to 2001. He never finished a season above .500 but coached multitalented quarterback Antwaan Randle El, and in 2000 the Hoosiers ranked seventh in the nation in rushing.

That leaves Pittsburgh and Oakland as the only clubs left to fill a head coaching vacancy. The Steelers are expected to name offensive line coach Russ Grimm their new head coach shortly. Oakland, on the other hand, has been rebuffed by USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, former Cardinals coach Dennis Green and James Lofton.


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