By Calvin Watkins The Dallas Morning News
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FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys formally introduced Brian Schottenheimer as the 10th head coach in franchise history late Monday morning from The Star.

Schottenheimer signed a four-year contract with a franchise that hasn’t won a Super Bowl since the 1995 season.

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The hire is a surprise to some considering several high-profile coaching candidates were on the market, including Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore who interviewed with the Cowboys last week.

“This is as big a risk that you could take,” team owner Jerry Jones said of Schottenheimer, a first-time head coach.

But team officials felt Schottenheimer, 51, was the best fit for an organization that sought continuity.

“I think we have a lot of great pieces,” Cowboys CEO and co-owner Stephen Jones said.

“You ask, ‘Why Schotty?’ I think Schotty is the perfect combination of keeping some continuity, but also effecting change.”

The news conference was attended by several players including Dak Prescott, DeMarvion Overshown and Tyler Smith. Members of the Cowboys’ front office and the entire strength and conditioning staff watched the news conference from the atrium of The Star.

Schottenheimer got emotional during the news conference when talking about his father, former NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer who passed away in 2021.

“My father was a legendary coach, a great man, but he was an incredible father,” Schottenheimer said. “And he’s impacted me more than anyone in this profession. I know he’s looking down on me, I know he’s proud and I miss him very much. But I know what he would say to me, he’d say ‘Brian, the easy part is over, it’s time to get to work.’”

There were at least 12 members from Schottenheimer’s family present at the news conference including his mother Pat, wife Gemmi, son Sutton and daughter Savannah.

Schottenheimer replaces Mike McCarthy who departed after five seasons at the helm. McCarthy (49-35) led the Cowboys to the postseason three times, getting just one postseason victory. McCarthy also produced three consecutive 12-win seasons.

“Mike is one of my best friends,” Schottenheimer said. “When you talk about what Mike and what this football team has done in the last five years, it’s been some incredible success. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to create relationships. Relationships that are built on trust, respect, connection and I’m really good with X’s and O’s, but I’m great with people.”

In 2024, the Cowboys finished 7-10 in an injury-riddled season that saw them lose star quarterback Dak Prescott, cornerback Trevon Diggs and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence to injuries.

After nearly two weeks of discussions with McCarthy in the offseason, which included the Cowboys denying the Chicago Bears permission to speak with him, the Cowboys elected to go their separate ways.

“Mike McCarthy left some good stuff here. One of them was Brian,” Jerry Jones said. “It was time for a change.”

The Cowboys interviewed four candidates during the hiring process: Leslie Frazier, Robert Saleh, Moore and Schottenheimer.

Jones also informally spoke with Deion Sanders and Pete Carroll about the job vacancy.

Team officials finalized the deal with Schottenheimer on Friday evening.

Schottenheimer is no stranger to coaching. He broke into the NFL business as an assistant coach in 1997 with the St. Louis Rams.

In 1998, Schottenheimer worked under his father in Kansas City Chiefs as an assistant.

“Anybody in this room that doesn’t believe the apple doesn’t go far from the tree has missed it someplace down the road,” said Jerry Jones, referencing Brian’s relationship and what he learned from his father.

Schottenheimer has worked for 10 NFL teams as an offensive coach in some capacity. He’s been an offensive coordinator for four teams, including Dallas the last two seasons.

McCarthy, who met Schottenheimer when they were assistants in Kansas City, hired him as a consultant in 2022.

When McCarthy took over the offensive play-calling for Moore in 2023, Schottenheimer became the offensive coordinator.