Gary Kubiak was packing his bags with one hand, and using his phone to hire coaches with the other.
The Broncos’ new coach had not yet arrived in Denver when he hired Rick Dennison to be his offensive coordinator and Brian Pariani as his tight ends coach, according to two NFL sources.
Dennison, 56, previously was a nine-year linebacker and 15-year coach with the Broncos. He also coached with Kubiak with the Houston Texans and, last season, with the Baltimore Ravens.
Dennison is well-schooled in the zone-blocking, play-action offensive system Kubiak prefers. With Dennison coming to Denver, Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase is moving out. Gase flew Monday evening to Baltimore, where he will interview Tuesday for the Ravens’ offensive coordinator position vacated by Kubiak.
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This past season, the Ravens’ offensive staff was led by Kubiak with Dennison his quarterbacks coach and Pariani his tight ends coach. Pariani was also the Houston Texans’ tight ends coach during Kubiak’s entire head coaching term there from 2006-13.
Meanwhile, Broncos tight ends coach Clancy Barone will shift to offensive line coach so he can teach the blockers the techniques in zone-blocking. Barrone was an offensive line and tight ends coach in Atlanta where the Falcons with quarterback Michael Vick employed the zone-blocking system from 2004-06, leading the league in rushing all three seasons.
The Broncos also want to retain receiver coach Tyke Tolbert. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos also bring back zone-blocking guru Alex Gibbs as a coaching consultant.
Strength and conditioning coach Luke Richesson and his staff will return. However, Richesson’s top assistant, Jason George, is drawing interest from multiple teams to become head of strength and conditioning.
Broncos quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp, who also is well-schooled in the Kubiak-Dennison offense, and running backs coach Eric Studesville also figure to have a chance to stay.
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Broncos special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers and assistant secondary coach Sam Garnes have been hired by new Chicago Bears and former Broncos head coach John Fox. Broncos defensive backs coach Cory Undlin is likely to take the same position with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Broncos linebackers coach Richard Smith was Kubiak’s defensive coordinator in Houston from 2004-06, but Smith also was fired from that role. Smith has multiple offers elsewhere, but he might also have a chance to stay with the Broncos.
On defense, Kubiak would like to bring along Vance Joseph, his defensive backs coach in Houston from 2011-13. However, Joseph is also drawing interest from the San Francisco 49ers.
Joseph interviewed for the Broncos’ head coach job Friday. He is the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive backs coach. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis probably would not release Joseph unless he received a promotion to defensive coordinator.
Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis
Dennison file
A look at new Broncos offensive coordinator Rick Dennison:
Playing career
College: Played for Colorado State (1976-79) as a tight end.
NFL: Played nine years for the Broncos (1982-90) as a line- backer.
Coaching career
1995-96: Was an offensive assistant with the Broncos.
1997-2000: As the Denver special-teams coach, helped the Broncos win the Super Bowl in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
2001-05, 2009: Coached the Broncos’ offensive line in separate stints.
2006-08: Took over as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator when Gary Kubiak left Denver to be the head coach of the Houston Texans.
2010-13: Worked for Kubiak as the Texans’ offensive coordinator.
2014: Was the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterbacks coach, with Kubiak serving as offensive coordinator.
Nicki Jhabvala, The Denver Post
Pariani file
A look at new Broncos tight ends coach Brian Pariani:
1990-94: Worked as a scout and offensive assistant for the San Francisco 49ers, winning a Super Bowl championship ring in 1994.
1995-2004: Helped the Broncos win two Super Bowls. In his 10-year tenure in Denver, Broncos tight ends combined for 859 receptions and 9,948 yards, while Broncos running backs rushed for 22,483 yards, most in the NFL during that span.
2005: Spent one season as Syracuse’s offensive coordinator.
2006-13: Was the Texans’ tight ends coach during Gary Kubiak’s entire head coaching tenure in Houston. From 2008-12, the Texans were one of only two teams, with the Broncos, to have their total offense, passing offense and rushing offense all rank among the NFL’s top five in that span.
2014: Followed Kubiak to Baltimore, where he served as the Ravens’ tight ends coach.
Nicki Jhabvala, The Denver Post
