BEREA, Ohio - He's not Knute Rockne, Bill Parcells or Bill Belichick. Romeo Crennel doesn't want to be any of them, either. In his first news conference as a head coach, Crennel promised to be himself.

"I am who I am," he said.

And that's exactly why the Cleveland Browns hired him.

Crennel's long wait ended Tuesday as the lifelong assistant coach and former New England defensive coordinator was introduced as Cleveland's coach, leaving the powerful Patriots to fix the Browns.

A coaching odyssey that began 35 years ago at Western Kentucky and included stops at Texas Tech, Mississippi, Georgia Tech, New York and New England, brought the 57-year-old coach back to Cleveland, where he was the defensive coordinator in 2000.

"I've been in this league for a while and I've been somewhat successful as a position coach," said Crennel, who won two Super Bowls on Parcells' staff with the Giants and three more under Belichick. "Now, taking the reins of a team and trying to run a whole program is going to be special. It's a big challenge, but I think I'm ready."

Less than 48 hours after his final game with New England, it was an emotional day for Crennel and his family. During his news conference, Crennel's daughters, Tiffany Crennel and Kristi Cullinane, clasped hands while listening to their father. A few feet away, his wife, Rosemary, beamed with pride.

Crennel received a five-year, $11 million contract.

With the NFL scouting combine and free agency coming up in the next few weeks, Crennel will have to hit the ground running in Cleveland. The Browns, who have gone a league-worst 30-66 with one playoff appearance since 1999, may have to turn their roster over again to get competitive.

Crennel also needs to hire a coaching staff before deciding what to do with quarterback Jeff Garcia and contracts for soon-to-be free agents cornerback Anthony Henry, linebacker Andra Davis and quarterback Kelly Holcomb.

Browns general manager Phil Savage said the club asked Dallas for permission to interview Cowboys offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon, who has cleaned out his office in Texas. The Cowboys' Web site reported Carthon will join Crennel's staff.

The top candidate to be Cleveland's defensive coordinator is Patriots secondary coach Eric Mangini, who began his NFL career with the Browns in 1995. His contract expired after Sunday's Super Bowl and the Browns appear prepared to outbid several other clubs for the 34-year-old.

"I like Eric a lot because he helped me tremendously," Crennel said. "He might be one of the guys we decide to talk to."

As for Garcia, who had a disastrous first season in Cleveland, the Browns have to decide quickly if he fits into their plans. Savage said he recently spoke with the quarterback's agent, Steve Baker.

"It was a very open-minded discussion," Savage said. "I told him no decision had been made and no decisions have been made on their side. The bottom line is if you go forward with Jeff Garcia, you're going forward with him in terms of your offense. You'll build around him. If not, it's probably best to move forward."

Savage said Garcia's situation is a priority and could be decided in the next week.

Crennel is the 11th full-time coach in team history and Cleveland's first black coach. He's also the NFL's sixth minority coach, but the only one who owns four Super Bowl rings and has another ordered.

In hiring Crennel, the Browns selected a more experienced coach instead of going for an up-and-coming college candidate, as they did in 2001 when they plucked Butch Davis from the University of Miami.

Crennel dismissed the notion that he might be too old to be a first-time head coach.

"If age was a factor, I wouldn't be sitting here," he said. "Age is nothing but a number to me."

In the past few years, Crennel had been passed over for several head coaching jobs, including the Browns. At times, the son of a military father wondered if he would ever get his chance.

"I didn't know where it was going to happen or if it was going to happen," he said.