Greg Schiano To Coach Bucs

Added on Jan 26, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

So much for Tampa Bay wanting to land a veteran NFL coach. According to various sources, Greg Schiano has been hired as their next head coach. Schiano, who coached Rutgers from 2001-2011, received a second interview yesterday, and it must have went well because the two sides started hammering out a five-year contract. Schiano becomes Tampa Bay’s ninth head coach, following Raheem Morris who was fired three weeks ago.

Ex-Packers coach Mike Sherman was also granted a second interview and appeared to be leading the pack of candidates, but Schiano ended up being the choice after an extensive search. Oregon’s Chip Kelly was Tampa’s first choice until he pulled himself from consideration on Monday.

Schiano compiled a 68-67 record in eleven seasons at Rutgers. Since 2005, the team qualified for six Bowl games, going 5-1, including a 27-13 victory over Iowa State in the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl. His best season came in 2006 when the Scarlet Knights finished tied for second place in the Big East with a record of 11-2. His accomplishments earned five separate Coach of the Year honors.

The 45-year-old has a solid reputation in both college and professional coaching circles. Prior to accepting the position with Rutgers, he spent two seasons as the Miami Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator, and three years serving as a defensive assistant with the Bears.

He was linked to several higher profile collegiate jobs due to his success at Rutgers, including the 2007 and 2010 openings at Miami that eventually went to Randy Shannon and Al Golden respectively. As a display of loyalty to the Scarlet Knights, Schiano inked a lengthy contract extension in 2007 that would’ve run through 2016. His abrupt exit leaves Rutgers in a lurch with national signing day approaching fast.

The hiring of Schiano comes one day after the Colts brought aboard Chuck Pagano, meaning all 32 NFL teams now have head coaches.

Source: ESPN.com