Someday came a little more quickly than Rick Dennison thought it would.
Because while interviewing to be a head coach was something the Broncos' offensive coordinator was preparing for in recent years, to interview for that job in Denver wasn't on the radar.
Dennison, who was on the staff for Mike Shanahan's 14-year tenure with the Broncos, will interview to replace Shanahan this morning.
"I'm excited, sure I'm excited," Dennison said. "I've been thinking about being a head coach for a while, it was something I've aspired to. But head coach of the Broncos, I probably didn't give that a thought until (last) Tuesday, or maybe Wednesday."
Shanahan was fired Dec. 30 in a move that shocked much of the league. All of his assistant coaches are under contract through at least 2009.
With no decision about their future formally expected until a new coach is named and meets with team officials about the makeup of the staff, all of the assistants were given permission last week to talk with other teams or seek jobs elsewhere.
All of the assistants also met with chief operating officer Joe Ellis and vice president of Football operations
In the course of his meeting, Dennison expressed his interest in being a candidate to replace Shanahan.
"Again, to be a head coach at some point in time has been in my thought process," Dennison said. "I've got things prepared. Specifically what they are, I'll keep for the interview. But I see it as something I want to do."
Dennison has been the Broncos' run-game coordinator in recent years as well as coaching the offensive line since 2001. The Broncos routinely have been among the league's rushing leaders.
The Broncos also surrendered only 12 sacks this season. Of the team's top five seasons in sacks allowed per pass play, three have come with Dennison coaching the offensive line.
In his time with the team, Dennison, who played nine seasons at linebacker for the Broncos and holds a master's degree in civil engineering from Colorado State, has been an offensive assistant and special teams coach to go with the offensive line, as well as his recent duties in game-planning the run game.
