Texans hire ex-Cowboys Coach Phillips

HOUSTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Houston Texans announced Wednesday they have tapped former Dallas Cowboys head Coach Wade Phillips to run the team's defense.

Phillips replaces former defensive coordinator Frank Bush, who was let go along with three other coaches in a house-cleaning that spared head Coach Gary Kubiak, who will return for a sixth season.

Phillips has worked with Kubiak before when their tenures overlapped with the Denver Broncos from 1989-91. Kubiak is a former Broncos player and Phillips was Denver's defensive coordinator from 1989-92 and its head coach from 1993-94.

Phillips, 63, was dismissed by the Cowboys in November after a 1-7 start. He racked up a 34-22 career mark running the Cowboys, winning the NFC East twice.

In all he boasts 35 years of coaching experience -- 20 of them as defensive coordinator for the Saints, Eagles, Broncos, Falcons and Chargers.