Redskins’ coaching candidates many

Owner Dan Snyder has interviewed some and more are expected.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — There were some well-publicized candidates the last time Dan Snyder went looking for a coach. Jim Fassel, Dennis Green and Ray Rhodes all were interviewed, with Fassel getting more than 12 hours of face time with the owner over three different sessions in what the Washington Redskins claimed were merely preliminary talks.

The end result? None got the job. Snyder stunned the football world by bringing Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs out of retirement.

Gibbs, of course, didn’t need to be interviewed — just persuaded.

Four years later, Snyder is once again taking a meticulous approach as he seeks a successor to Gibbs, who resigned last week. The choice this time could be another surprise — because the owner’s full list of names is still a well-kept secret.

What is known is that former Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora interviewed for the job on Wednesday, and that Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks is scheduled to speak with Snyder on Thursday.

Another Indianapolis assistant, Jim Caldwell, is on Snyder’s list, but Caldwell might keep the Redskins on hold until Colts head coach Tony Dungy decides whether to return for another season. Caldwell would be a leading candidate to succeed Dungy if Dungy retires.

Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and at least one other candidate — whose name has not been released — met with Snyder last week.

There could other names to surface over the next few days, possibly pushing the process into next week.

All of the formal interviews have taken place at Snyder’s house, well away from the reporters who have staked out Redskins Park.

Then there’s Gregg Williams, who has the title of Redskins “assistant head coach — defense” and carries home-interview advantage.

Players and other assistants have voiced support for Williams, the former Buffalo Bills head coach whose defenses have ranked in the top 10 in three of his four seasons in Washington.