It happens every year — assistant coaches on successful teams leave town for greener pastures.

This season, the 14-2 San Diego Chargers are the ones with the empty nest.

San Diego decided to keep head coach Marty Schottenheimer, but four of his staff members, including both coordinators, are headed elsewhere.

The latest was defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who Thursday was hired as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

"I'm happy for him," Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "Obviously, it's kind of sad we lost him as a coach. But he has a great opportunity and I think it's best for him at this time in his career, he can go over and be a head coach."

Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was named Miami Dolphins head coach in mid-January; tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski was hired as Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator in late January; and linebackers coach Greg Manusky was named San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator last Monday.

Phillips served the past three years as the Chargers defensive coordinator, and is well-versed in the 3-4 defense.

Phillips was one of 10 candidates interviewed by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to replace Bill Parcells, who retired after four seasons. Dallas finished 9-7 this season.

At Thursday's press conference to announce Phillips' hiring, Jones said, "In my mind, we got it right."

That's good enough for Cowboys punter Mat McBriar.

"I'm sure they did all their research and they found this guy is going to be the guy to lead us in the next three years," said McBriar, a University of Hawai'i alum.

McBriar was pretty much out of the loop when Phillips was hired Thursday.

He said he found out about the hiring from his girlfriend's father, and added: "I don't know him. I don't have any personal history with him."

Cameron, the Chargers offensive coordinator the past five seasons, helped San Diego score a league-leading and team-record 494 points (30.8 per game) this season. He is replacing Nick Saban, who left the Dolphins to become head coach at the University of Alabama.

Cameron, the 2004 Sports Illustrated Offensive Assistant of the Year, had been interviewed by several teams the past few years for head coaching vacancies.

"Cameron is getting an opportunity to be a head coach as well," Tomlinson said. "It's one of his goals to be a head coach, and it's a good opportunity now."

Cameron was replaced by Clarence Shelmon, who was promoted from running backs coach. Matt Simon, previously of the Baltimore Ravens, will take over the Chargers running backs.

Chudzinski, who coached the Chargers tight ends for two seasons, inherits a Browns offense that averaged 14.9 points last season. Clancy Barone, formerly a tight ends coach for the Atlanta Falcons, was hired to replace Chudzinski.

Manusky, the Chargers linebackers coach the past five seasons, will inherit a 49ers defense which allowed a league-worst 25.8 points per game season. He is replacing the fired Billy Davis.

It's a good thing the Chargers still have their key players: Tomlinson, tight end Antonio Gates, quarterback Philip Rivers and defensive end Shawne Merriman.

And they still have Schottenheimer.

"Marty is the chief," Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal said. "He's going to have to direct these guys to do what we need to do. It's going to be tough; guys have to stick together."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.