Barring an unexpected breakdown in negotiations, linebackers assistant Al Groh will be announced as the New York Jets' new head coach on Monday at a 1 p.m. ET press conference, SportsLine learned late Friday night.

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Two sources close to Groh and one from the team confirmed that Jets officials opened contract negotiations earlier in the day with agent Craig Kelly and that the two sides quickly reached an agreement in principle.

Only a few details remain to be finalized, a source said, and Groh is expected to sign a five-year contract. Groh did not return messages to his Long Island home.

The appointment of Groh is not surprising, since he has been the choice of predecessor Bill Parcells ever since former assistant head coach Bill Belichick resigned on Jan. 4 after only one day on the job.

Despite several meetings with new owner Robert Wood Johnson IV, it has been obvious that Parcells preferred to not return to the sideline. Parcells resigned as coach on Jan. 3. Groh conducted the Jets coaching staff at this week's Senior Bowl workouts and the team has interviewed no other candidates.

There was speculation the Jets might pursue former Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer, but Johnson and Parcells were known to be opposed to meeting the Chiefs' compensation demands. Since he still had three seasons remaining on his contract when he resigned, the Chiefs have a right to demand compensation simply to interview Schottenheimer.

Groh, 55, is a 12-year veteran of the NFL. He spent the last seven years with Parcells, first in New England (1993-96) and then with the Jets (1997-99). Before that he worked with the Atlanta Falcons (1987), the New York Giants (1989-91), and the Cleveland Browns (1992). He also coached at seven different colleges and was head coach at Wake Forest from 1981-86.