Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart's contact with his new coach, Ken Whisenhunt, has been limited to one phone conversation that lasted 20 minutes or so. But like everyone else connected with the organization, Leinart came away impressed. "I think it's going to be great for our football team," Leinart said Thursday. "I think he's going to bring a physical attitude, kind of hard-nosed, but a players' coach. He's young and he's fiery."

New Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt decided on both of his coordinators Thursday. Whisenhunt named Todd Haley to run the offense and retained Clancy Pendergast as the team's defensive coordinator.

After being spurned by the Steelers, Russ Grimm is following Ken Whisenhunt to the desert. The Cardinals on Tuesday named Grimm as their assistant head coach and offensive line coach. Grimm will work under Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers' offensive coordinator for the last three years and was named Cardinals coach on January 14.

The Arizona Cardinals hired Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt as coach after a 5-11 season that culminated with Dennis Green's firing. The 44-year-old Whisenhunt signed a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth, the Cardinals announced. Green was fired after three seasons and a 16-32 record. Whisenhunt becomes the Cardinals' eighth coach since the franchise moved to Arizona in 1988. Whisenhunt was one of eight candidates interviewed for the job, but one of only two who got a second interview. The other was former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman.

Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt will get a second interview for the head coaching job of the Cardinals. Whisenhunt was scheduled to be in Tempe for the session Friday, joining former Packers head coach Mike Sherman as the candidates to get a second meeting with Cardinals officials. Sherman got his second interview on Thursday.

The Arizona Cardinals are bringing Mike Sherman back for a second interview for their coaching vacancy on Thursday. At least two others are expected to have second sessions, but their names were not revealed when the team announced Wednesday it would meet again with Sherman. The Cardinals are believed to be waiting to see what happens in Pittsburgh, where Steelers assistants Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm are leading candidates to replace Bill Cowher.

Steelers assistant Russ Grimm was interviewed Tuesday as the final candidate to replace the fired Dennis Green as head coach of the Cardinals. Grimm, the assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the Steelers, didn't arrive until the afternoon and hadn't completed his interview when he took a break to talk to reporters.

The Arizona Cardinals list of eight head coaching candidates includes Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow who also coached QB Matt Leinart at USC. Chow is interviewing Monday, and Leinart is expected to push for him, according to the Arizona Republic.

Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera has interviewed for the Cardinals' coaching vacancy and is expected to meet with the Falcons and Dolphins. "I spoke yesterday with Arizona and have a couple of more lined up that will be forthcoming," Rivera said Thursday after practice.

Miami received permission to interview San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron for their head coaching vacancy, Chargers GM A.J. Smith said Thursday. Cameron is the first confirmed candidate since former coach Nick Saban left Wednesday for Alabama. Cameron also is expected to interview for jobs with Arizona and Atlanta.