Keith O’Quinn helmed one of the worst special teams units in the league in 2019. His contract with the Cowboys expired in January, and he was replaced by John Fassel in the new Mike McCarthy regime.
But O’Quinn will still drive to The Star in Frisco every day for work. Citing a source, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports the long-time assistant will transition to a role as the “director of advance scouting” for the Cowboys in 2020.
“The former special teams coordinator will apply his cross-over experience as both a scout and coach to study upcoming opponents and help prepare game plans for Mike McCarthy and his new coaching staff,” Gehlken writes.
Long before being named special teams coordinator, O’Quinn worked as a pro scout for the club from 2006 to 2008. He then moved to Cleveland, where he served as director of pro personnel. After one season with the Browns, it was back to Dallas, where O’Quinn embarked on a climb up the coaching ladder. He had stints as offensive quality control coach, assistant wide receivers coach, and assistant special teams coach before taking over special teams coordinator duties in 2018.
O’Quinn’s ten years on the coaching side should prove to be valuable experience in his new position. As Gehlken points out, “a scout can benefit from a period in coaching, gaining an understanding for how scouting principles are applicable and most useful to a coach.” It’s an approach that has worked particularly well within the Patriots organization, Gehlken notes.
Considering O’Quinn’s prior tenure in the team’s scouting department, it was widely believed that he might return there after Fassel’s hiring. Now it’s official.
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