By Mike Piellucci
FOXSportsSouthwest.com
Cross another name off the list of candidates for the Cowboys' defensive coordinator opening.
Paul Pasqualoni, who served as the team's defensive coordinator after Wade Phillips was fired mid-season, was named new head coach at the University of Connecticut in a statement released by the university Thursday.
The 61-year-old will return to familiar territory in the Big East, where he coached Syracuse for 14 seasons before being fired in 2004. Pasqualoni succeeds Randy Edsall, who left for Maryland after guiding the Huskies to their first-ever BCS bowl berth following a 8-4 season and Big East championship.
This marks the end of Pasqualoni's second tenure with Dallas. His first stint, from 2005-2007, saw him coaching on both sides of the ball, first as tight ends coach in 2005-2006 before moving to a more familiar role on defense as linebackers coach in 2006-2007.
After a two-year stretch as Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator, Pasqualoni returned to the Cowboys in 2010 as defensive line coach before assuming coordinator duties midway through last season.
Pasqualoni joins wide receivers coach Ray Sherman as staff members who will not return next year as part of Jason Garrett's first full season as the team's head coach.
While Garrett has been interviewing outside candidates for the defensive coordinator position, Pasqualoni was in consideration to retain the job in 2011.
With Pasqualoni out of picture, Garrett will look exclusively outside the organization. Former 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and current Stanford defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have already interviewed with the Cowboys, but both appear to be long shots to land in Dallas.
Manusky has been linked with openings in Arizona, Carolina and San Diego. The Dallas
