Dolphins to meet with Cincy CB coach

The Miami Dolphins have a new head coach in Joe Philbin. A new defensive coordinator may be next. Two sources told FOXSports.com that the Dolphins have officially received permission to interview Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach Kevin Coyle for the position. The interview will take place later this week in South Florida, one source said. Coyle has coached with the Bengals for the past 11 seasons. During his tenure, he has helped develop defensive backs like Jonathan Joseph, Leon Hall and Madieu Williams. Coyle has 35 years of coaching experience, 23 of which came in the college ranks at programs like Fresno State, Maryland and Syracuse. While they have never worked together, Coyle and Philbin are Massachusetts natives who are close friends. One source said Coyle attended the recent funeral of Philbin's 21-year-old son Michael, who died after accidentally drowning in a Wisconsin river. Coyle also is believed under consideration to receive a promotion as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator if Mike Zimmer leaves for a head coaching job elsewhere. Zimmer has drawn interest from Tampa Bay and Indianapolis and was interviewed by the Dolphins. Mike Nolan, who was Miami's defensive coordinator the past two seasons, left the franchise earlier this month to accept the same position with the Atlanta Falcons. The Coyle interview also makes it seem unlikely that Todd Bowles, who assumed interim head coaching duties last month following the firing of Tony Sparano, will return to Miami on Philbin's staff. The Dolphins fielded the NFL's No. 6 scoring defense last season (19.6-point average) despite having a 6-10 record. The NFL Network first reported last weekend that Coyle was "under consideration" by the Dolphins. An interview was not scheduled at the time nor was it certain the Bengals would grant permission. Cincinnati blocked Coyle from interviewing last year for Philadelphia's vacant defensive coordinator position that ultimately went to Juan Castillo.