The Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with their new offensive and defensive coordinators, Mike Sherman and Kevin Coyle, respectively, today. With the hirings, it's time to take a look at who exactly head coach Joe Philbin is bringing in to serve on his staff. First up is offensive coordinator Mike Sherman.
Sherman is currently 57 years old, being born and raised around the Boston, Massachusetts area, eventually earning a scholarship to Central Connecticut State University as a defensive end and offensive tackle. After he graduated college, Sherman became a high school English teacher and assistant football coach. He spent the the 1979 and 1980 at the Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, where he taught Philbin.
From 1981-1982, Sherman served as a graduate assistant for the University of Pittsburgh. During his time at Pitt, Sherman was unable to afford an apartment, and lived on a cot in the stadium. In 1983, he moved to Tulane as the team's offensive line coach.
He then moved to Holy Cross in 1985, serving as their offensive line coach until 1987, before becoming the team's offensive coordinator for a year. Sherman then was hired for his first stint with Texas A&M, serving as the team's offensive line coach from 1989-1993.
After a year at UCLA as an offensive line coach, Sherman returned to Texas A&M in the same role, serving their from 1995 to 1996.
The Green Bay Packers came calling in 1997, bringing Sherman to the NFL as a tight ends coach. He remained with the Packers until 1999, when he took over as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator.
A year later, Sherman was back in Green Bay, this time as the team's head coach. While there, Sherman hired Philbin in 2003 to be the team's assistant offensive line coach. He promoted Philbin the next year, adding tight ends coach to his title. Sherman also served as the team's general manager, starting in 2001.
During his six years as the Packers head coach, Sherman compiled a 57-39 regular season record, going 2-4 in the playoffs. He claimed three NFC North division titles, and, until his final season, had the second best winning percentage in franchise history with a .663, trailing only Vince Lombardi. However, the team went 4-12 in 2005, breaking a streak of fourteen straight winning season in Green Bay, and, despite having lost three Pro Bowl players early in the season to injuries, Sherman was fired.
After being fired by the Packers, Sherman was hired by the Houston Texans in 2006 as the team's assistant head coach, then in 2007 served as their offensive coordinator.
In 2008, Sherman was hired as the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies. After struggling in the 2008 season, the Aggies made the Independence Bowl in 2009. Sherman then led the Aggies to a share of the Big 12 South Division and a 9-4 record in 2009, before heading to the Cotton Bowl in 2010 and another 9-4 record.
The Aggies started the 2011 season ranked eighth in the nation, before starting the season 2-2, and falling to 24. Three wins seemed to right the ship, but losses in four of the team's next five games sent the team to the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, and led to Sherman's firing before the game. Sherman was informed of his being relived of duty by phone while on a recruiting trip to Houston, and saw his third stint with Texas A&M end with a 25-25 overall record.
Following his dismissal from Texas A&M, Sherman was considered for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach position, before the job went to former Rutgers' head coach Greg Schiano. The Dolphins officially hired Sherman to take over the team's offense earlier today.
Sherman has utilized the west coast offense throughout his coaching career, and would be expected to install the system in Miami this year.