VIDEO: Shanahan and Broncos Owner Emotional On Firing

Orgeron Headed Back to College

Ed Orgeron is headed to Tennessee. The former Ole Miss head coach, who spent the 2008 season as the New Orleans Saints defensive line coach, confirmed via text message this afternoon that he has accepted an offer to be the Volunteers recruiting coordinator, defensive line coach and will have the title of associate head coach. “I’m so excited,” Orgeron said via phone. “I get to coach with Monte [Kiffin] and I’m getting to recruit again. It’s pedal to the metal and I can’t wait to get up there.” Orgeron came to his decision after spending the past few days in Destin, Fla., with his family and weighing his options which included an offer in a smiliar role at LSU or staying in New Orleans. The 47-year-old Louisiana native had been intrgued by the chance to coach at LSU, a school he grew up rooting for. However he was ultimately swayed by the chance to work with new UT coach Lane Kiffin and his father, legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin who also has relocated to Knoxville. Orgeron is expected to make $650,000 making him one of the nation’s highest paid assistants. – ESPN.com

New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has accepted a position on new coach Lane Kiffin’s growing staff to be Tennessee’s recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach. The move happened suddenly on New Year’s Eve less than two days after multiple reports had Orgeron leaning towards accepting a similar position at LSU. Orgeron last coached in college at Ole Miss in 2005-07 and compiled a 10-25 record. Despite being fired from that post, Orgeron was widely credited with upgrading the Rebels’ talent level. Following Orgeron’s departure, Ole Miss went 8-4 and 5-3 in the SEC under first-year coach Houston Nutt. – Knoxville News-Sentinel

Former Auburn Coach Terry Bowden Named Head Coach at UNA

Former Auburn and Samford head football coach Terry Bowden will return to the sidelines as the new coach at the University of North Alabama. Sources have confirmed that Bowden, who was 46-16-1 at Auburn and111-53-2 overall with stints at Samford and at West Virginia’s Salem College, will be named as Mark Hudspeth’s replacement in a press conference Thursday. Bowden has been working as a broadcaster since leaving Auburn six games into the 1998 season. He worked as a radio analyst in Florence at this month’s Division II national championship game, the day Hudsepth announced his resignation to become passing game coordinator at Mississippi State. – Birmingham News

Bellotti Ready to Call it Quits?

The bowl game ended. His family members formed a flying-wedge formation behind him on the Qualcomm Stadium field. And Oregon coach Mike Bellotti talked football with a cracking voice, and through a pair of glassy eyes. It was Oregon 42, Oklahoma State 31 in the Holiday Bowl on Tuesday. Bellotti was unusually emotional. And while he insists he’s made no imminent decision regarding his future as head football coach, this felt a lot like the end of a successful era, didn’t it? One of the great arts in life is timing. Knowing when to leave. Realizing the very instant your mission has been accomplished. That time feels like it’s arrived for Bellotti at Oregon. Do not be surprised if there’s an announcement today by Bellotti. Or maybe in a few weeks. Or more reasonably an announcement comes shortly after February’s national signing day deadline passes, to ensure continuity for heir assistant Chip Kelly. While beating the pants off the Big 12 Conference representative to this bowl was a great moment for a football program and a proud moment for the Pacific-10 Conference, it felt a lot like the perfect goodbye for Bellotti. – Oregonian

VIDEO: Bill Cowher Not Interested In Jets’ Coaching Job

Western Michigan’s Cubit Gets New Deal

Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit has agreed to a new five-year contract worth nearly $2 million, the school announced Tuesday. Cubit’s original contract was set to expire at the end of the 2009 season. The new deal will run through 2013 and pay Cubit a guaranteed compensation package worth $375,000 per season. The base salary will be $225,000 with an additional $150,000 for public, radio and television appearances. Under Cubit, the Broncos have posted 29 wins over the last four seasons, the second-most over a four-year span in school history. – Houston Chronicle

49ers Fire Martz as OC

Mike Martz, the headstrong coach who took St. Louis to the 2002 Super Bowl, was fired Tuesday after one season as the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator. San Francisco coach Mike Singletary announced Martz’s third firing in less than three calendar years following an afternoon meeting with the veteran offensive mastermind. This parting had long been expected, and it wasn’t nearly as acrimonious as Martz’s last two dismissals in St. Louis and Detroit. Singletary and Martz worked together fairly well for nine games after Singletary’s midseason promotion, but the two men clearly have different philosophies of offense. “I wish him nothing but the best,” Martz said of Singletary, adding that the Hall of Fame linebacker will be “an outstanding head coach.” “I am not what he is looking for offensively,” Martz said. “I understand that. This is just a part of professional sports.” Martz’s dismissal means the 49ers are looking for their seventh offensive coordinator in seven years — but at least Martz left something on which the new coach can build. – ESPN.com

Jauron to Return as Bills Coach

Bills coach Dick Jauron will return next season after team owner Ralph Wilson decided a shake up wasn’t necessary despite a third consecutive 7-9 finish that left unhappy fans demanding change. While acknowledging the fans’ dissatisfaction, Wilson said the “team played hard all year long and there are many positives to build on.” The Bills owner announced he had decided to retain Jauron and the entire coaching staff after meeting with the coach Tuesday at Wilson’s home in suburban Detroit. “I believe that this team, at this time, is better served by continuity in the coaching staff rather than a disruptive overhaul,” Wilson said in a three-paragraph statement released by the team. – ESPN.com

VIDEO: Tom Jackson on Denver’s Firing of Mike Shanahan

VIDEO: Schlereth on Shanahan Firing in Denver

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