By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

When the Steelers compiled a list of candidates to interview for their next head coach, they did so without having an individual in mind that was a shoe-in for the job.

 

Every candidate was given an opportunity to shine, a chance to prove that they should be the one to take over the reigns of a franchise just one year removed from winning a Super Bowl title.

 

No candidate stood out more and proved that better than Mike Tomlin, who was named the team's 16^th head coach earlier this week.

 

Tomlin, who wasn't as well known to the Steelers organization as some of the other candidates, jumped to the top of the list with a combination of his football credentials and intangibles that made him the right choice for the job.

 

"The more we talked with him, the more comfortable we got with him," said Steelers President Art Rooney, II. "You just think about if this is a person that can get up in front of a team and get his message across. We felt good about that.

"He's an impressive young guy. Get in a room and spend two or three hours with Mike, you come away feeling like this is a special person. The main thing you think about is when this guy is standing up in front of your team is he going to get his message across. That, more than any one thing, is what convinced us that this was the guy."

 

Tomlin came highly recommended to the Steelers, with Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy and Vikings head coach Brad Childress being among those singing his praises.

 

"Tony Dungy giving you a high recommendation counts a lot," said Rooney. "Brad Childress giving you a high recommendation counts a lot. It's all of those things but in the end you have to have a feel that this is the right guy for your team."

 

Tomlin spent his first season coaching in the NFL under Dungy's tutelage with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He left a lasting impression on Dungy, who is happy to sing his praises.

 

"I'm happy for Mike," said Dungy. "He's going to get to show what he can do. He's a tremendous young coach, he's a great communicator, he's a guy that has a real exuberant personality that I think the players are going to enjoy playing for him and I'm excited for him.

 

"It is a little bit of a…that was the place where I started. I have so much respect and love for the Rooneys and the city of Pittsburgh and then to have Mike who started with me to go get that job, it's just kind of an unbelievable thing and I'm really happy for Pittsburgh because I think they got a good coach and for Mike."