First Priority for Johnson: Winning

In one of his first moments as Miami Dolphin coach Thursday, Jimmy Johnson was asked about a timetable.

He gave an answer that will make Dolphin fans shout and the rest of the NFL cringe--right now.

“Whatever the timetable is, it’s not soon enough,” Johnson said after formally signing a four-year contract worth $2 million a season, making him the highest-paid coach in the NFL.

How eager is Johnson to return to the Super Bowl after spending two seasons in a television studio?

On Thursday, he was working before he was working. He actually had to leave his new desk to attend the news conference announcing his hiring.

The jaw is not even cold, yet the memories of recently retired Don Shula could soon be flattened by this oncoming aura.

“I don’t think this team needs a major overhaul at all,” Johnson said of the whining, underachieving, 9-7 Dolphins. “There’s talent on this team. This team can win. There will be changes--that comes with the territory.

“We’ll try to make it a situation where it’s not a rebuilding time.”

With Super Bowl victories in his last two years as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson immediately becomes the NFL’s best coach and talent evaluator.

He certainly becomes Dan Marino’s favorite coach.

Marino, the NFL’s all-time passing leader, failed to win a Super Bowl in 13 seasons with Shula.

Not only does it appear that Johnson will keep Marino, but he says he wants to build around him.

“I’m like everybody else--I felt coming into this year we would be in the Super Bowl,” Marino said.

“It didn’t work out. Hopefully in the future we can achieve those expectations. That’s what [Johnson] wants to do. That’s why he’s taking the job. That’s what I want to do.”

Johnson, 52, steps into a shrinking void left by Shula.

“We didn’t anticipate this thing going on as quickly as it did,” Johnson said Thursday.

Oh no?

Johnson had won a national championship at the University of Miami in 1987, still lived in the area, and had been out of football for two years while Shula was under fire.

This move had been anticipated for two years.

No wonder the hiring took only four hours, after one meeting Wednesday between Johnson and Dolphin owner Wayne Huizenga.

The only people who probably aren’t thrilled about this are the Cowboys’ personnel bosses, even though their team will reap much publicity when they travel to Miami for a regular-season game next year.

Five Cowboys who will start Sunday’s NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers are unrestricted free agents.

At least three--Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson, cornerback Larry Brown and defensive tackle Russell Maryland--like Johnson and could run to him in a minute.

Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin addressed reporters before they were allowed into the locker room where the Cowboys are preparing for Sunday’s game.

Saying he was speaking on behalf of the team, he said: “We are as happy as anyone that Jimmy got the job. Thank God. Now we don’t have to worry about him criticizing us anymore. Now, when those [locker room] doors open up, please go in and ask questions about Brett Favre, LeRoy Butler, Reggie White and the Green Bay Packers.”

It won’t be so easy for Johnson’s former coaches. Although 10 of the 11 assistants on Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer’s staff were inherited from Johnson, owner Jerry Jones bragged Thursday that he planned for this by giving all of them at least one-year extensions before this season. So all of them are stuck.

“I’m proud for Jimmy,” Jones said. “I think it’s something he’s wanted and it’s really good for the NFL. There’s not one thing in me that doesn’t think this is a positive and it’ll be fun competing.”

Johnson is expected to retain Gary Stevens as his offensive coordinator, and Dolphin special teams coach Mike Westhoff is the favorite to replace embattled Tom Olivadotti--yes, he is history--as defensive coordinator.

Times staff writer Maryann Hudson contributed to this story.

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Johnson’s Track Record

Jimmy Johnson’s winning percentage while coaching college and pro football:

Oklahoma State

Year before arrival: 3-8.

Year after departure: 10-2.

Totals: 30-25-2, .544, fifth-best percentage in school history (20 coaches). Two bowl games in five years.

*

University of Miami

Year before arrival: 11-1.

Year after departure: 11-1.

Totals: 52-9, .852, second-best percentage in school history (18 coaches). Five bowl games in five years, national championship in 1987.

*

Dallas Cowboys

Year before arrival: 3-13.

Year after departure: 12-4.

Totals: 44-36, .550. Two Super Bowl championships in five years.