ENGLEWOOD — It's been nearly two decades since Rick Dennison has had to sell himself on the interview circuit.

But three times in the past two weeks, Dennison has had to sit in conference rooms and present his best side to potential employers.

Those salesmanship skills must have come back to him quickly, though, as the longtime Broncos assistant was informed this week he'll be retained by the Denver organization as its offensive line coach.

Dennison, 50, was one of seven people, and the only in-house candidate, to interview for the Broncos head- coaching vacancy that eventually went to Josh McDaniels.

Dennison then talked to San Francisco 49ers officials Monday about their offensive coordinator vacancy, a meeting that had been scheduled shortly after Mike Shanahan's dismissal from the Broncos.

Dennison then returned Tuesday to Dove Valley for a second go-round, this time with Mc- Daniels, about the offensive line position.

He and running backs coach Bobby Turner currently are the only assistants from Shanahan's staff to remain.

"It's been kind of a learning experience in many ways," Dennison said Friday. "You have to prepare for all that stuff, but it's interesting, nonetheless. It kind of gets your nerves on edge a little bit. It's certainly different - nerve-racking, but a learning experience."

Dennison served as the Broncos' offensive coordinator last year, his 14th on the staff, but ceded play-calling responsibilities to Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates. His primary role was implementing the game plan in the running attack and coaching the offensive line.

Dennison molded a group that featured two players starting for the first time at tackle, a new addition at center and another holdover switching positions into a cohesive unit that allowed only 12 sacks in more than 600 drop-backs.

Since Dennison took over the offensive line in 2001, the Broncos also routinely have been in the top 10 in rushing, with five individual 1,000-yard seasons by four different players.

"I'm just happy to stay in Denver," he said.

Dennison's chat with Mc- Daniels was the first time he had spoken to the Broncos' new coach, though Dennison was aware of McDaniels' reputation through various league contacts.

"He's a bright guy and energetic," Dennison said, when asked his first impression. "And that's what you'd expect from a head coach."

Of course, Dennison had designs on that job during his Jan. 7 meeting with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and members of the front office.

That meeting required extensive preparation on Dennison's part. While there was a comfort level inherent, given that Dennison had worked side by side with the group grilling him in the room, there was a strange undertone, too.

"It was going to talk to people that you knew, but you were interviewing for a chance at a head (coaching) job, and I didn't know how far that would go," he said. "But I also knew that whatever I said might have a bearing on whether I was here or not, after."

Now that Dennison is returning, and has met with Mc- Daniels, it remains unclear whether the Broncos' zone- blocking scheme will remain intact, whether some elements will be retained and others added, or if it will be scrapped altogether. In the end, it's expected to include a mix of Denver's previous system and the one employed by the New England Patriots.

"I have no sense of that right now. I'm senseless," Dennison said with a laugh. "We talked

really generally - 'We may do this. We may do a little of that.' There will be some give and take, and we'll see."

Dennison and Turner will be joined on Denver's staff by defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, with whom Dennison is quite familiar.

Nolan served as his linebackers and special-teams coach when Dennison was a Broncos player in the 1980s.

"Mike's a really good coach," Dennison said. "He's a grinder. And I think it's a good move."

In the coming days, the Broncos also are expected to add Kansas City special-teams coach Mike Priefer to a similar position on the staff and bring in veteran coach Dom Capers.

Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates and wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch, the two other Broncos assistants considered for McDaniels' staff, are not expected to return.

Bates has been granted permission to interview elsewhere and could land either with the Oakland Raiders or Detroit.

Staff writer Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.

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