Raiders Name Dennis Allen Head Coach

The Oakland Raiders made their head coaching decision official on Monday when they announced that former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will be taking the helm in the 2012 season.

New general manager Reggie McKenzie apparently knew Allen was the right choice the moment he started interviewing him.

The bottom line, he was what the doctor ordered, McKenzie said Monday at a news conference to introduce Allen. He understood the big picture as far as putting a plan together, how to do this, this and this. We went over everything. How you treat people, how you treat players, getting a staff together. It was all right in line (with) the way I was thinking.

Allen, 39, was considered one of the top up-and-coming assistant coaches in the NFL. In 2011, the Broncos' defense performed better than many had expected after a dismal effort in 2010. Denver increased their sack total from 23 to 41, as the addition of rookie Von Miller helped propel the Broncos into the playoffs.

Oakland would not have to make a dramatic change to their defense as Allen runs a 4-3 scheme, which is the same formation the Raiders have used over the past seven seasons.

Allen said he won't call defensive plays as the Raiders head coach, and discussed the Raiders' offense going into next season.

Carson Palmer is extremely excited about what we have going here, Allen said. He's looking forward to the future and he's excited about the opportunities here.

The Raiders finished second in a tight AFC West in 2011 with an 8-8 record.

The last time Oakland hired a former Broncos assistant as their head coach was in 1988, when Mike Shanahan took the job. Shanahan went on to have have long career after the Raiders, and in his return to Denver won two Super Bowls as a head coach with the Broncos.

Here is Adam Schein's opinion of the Raiders' head coaching decision:

Schein: Raiders joining the party by FOX_Sports_Interactive