With Kelly out, Bucs want second look at Sherman

University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly's change of heart has forced a change of plans in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' search for a head coach.

After Kelly's decision early Monday to drop out of the race, the Bucs turned again to former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman, who was contacted for a second interview, according to a source close to Sherman.

Sherman, 57, was among the first candidates interviewed for the job.

Kelly was in negotiations late Sunday aimed at making him Tampa Bay's next coach, but told the Bucs his heart was not in a move to the NFL and he was staying at Oregon.

"Our discussions with Kelly are off,'' Bucs general manager Mark Dominik wrote in an e-mail to The Tampa Tribune early Monday. "It's become clear his heart just wasn't in it. He is happy in college.''

Kelly's happiness wasn't the only issue. After winning three straight Pac-10 titles but falling short of a national championship each of the last two years, Kelly decided his work at Oregon was not done.

"I am flattered by the interest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' organization," Kelly said in a statement posted Monday on the University of Oregon website. "I enjoyed meeting with the Glazer family and general manager Mark Dominik, but after numerous discussions, I concluded that I have some unfinished business to complete at the University of Oregon."

Kelly's decision left the Bucs with some unfinished business, as well. After three weeks of searching, they do not have a replacement for Raheem Morris, who was fired Jan. 2 after a 4-12 season.

Sherman, who declined to comment when reached on Monday, was 57-39 as head coach of the Packers, putting together five straight winning seasons from 2000 to 2004 and leading Green Bay to three consecutive NFC North division titles from 2002 to 2004. More recently, he was fired after going 25-25 in four seasons at Texas A&M.

Bucs officials did not respond to inquiries Monday evening about the Sherman.

Tampa Bay is known to have interviewed nine candidates, including Kelly. When reached on Monday, several were unsure of the team's plans now that Kelly is out of the running.

"I'm wondering, too,'' said former Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress, one of three former NFL head coaches who has interviewed with the Bucs.

"I haven't heard anything from them,'' said Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, one of several top assistants the team has interviewed.

Early in the search, Tampa Bay interviewed former NFL head coaches Sherman, Marty Schottenheimer and Childress, plus Gray. More recently, the Bucs interviewed Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.

The team also interviewed former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who was introduced on Saturday as the Miami Dolphins' new head coach.

Previously, the team planned to interview former NFL head coach and current Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, but Phillips withdrew the night before the interview.

As of Sunday, none of the candidates had been eliminated by the Bucs, according to a source with knowledge of the team's search strategy.

"When I interviewed with them they said it was going to be a long process and they have been true to their word,'' said Schottenheimer, who was undeterred by the team's interest in Kelly.

"They told me they were interested in hiring someone who has been a head coach before and Chip is a guy who has had some experience at it. So, them talking to him doesn't bother me at all. My interest in the job is as keen as ever.''

Interest in Kelly stemmed from his three seasons at Oregon, where he posted a 34-6 regular-season record and guided the Ducks to a trio of conference championships and BCS bowl berths, including a 45-38 win in this year's Rose Bowl.

"We are pleased with Coach Kelly's decision to remain as our head coach," OU athletic director Rob Mullers said Monday on the school website. "Coach Kelly has provided great leadership and remains committed to building on our position among the elite college football programs in the country."

In other news, the Titans have hired former Bucs defensive line coach Keith Millard as a pass rush specialist, Tennessee general manager Ruston Webster said.