Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Dat Nguyen leaving team, source says

Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Dat Nguyen is not with the rest of the coaching staff at the Pro Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and will not return to the team next season, a source close to Nguyen said Wednesday.

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Nguyen, the assistant linebackers/defensive quality control coach, has told Cowboys owner Jerry Jones he will pursue other interests, according to the source.

Jones said last week he wanted to retain the three assistant coaches whose contracts were expiring -- Brett Maxie, Wes Phillips and Nguyen. Maxie and Phillips were signed through 2011.

Nguyen has been with the Cowboys as a coach since 2007. He also played for the team from 1999 to 2005 before retiring due to injuries. He was a popular player in college at Texas A&M, where he led the Aggies in tackles for four straight seasons.

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