Report: Bucs name Dave Wannstedt special teams coordinator
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| The well-traveled Dave Wannstedt has been hired as special teams coordinator for the Bucs. (US Presswire) |
Tampa Bay has hired former Bears and Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt as its new special teams coordinator, according to ESPN.com.
Wannstedt spent the last two seasons in Buffalo, before being fired along with Bills coach Chan Gailey on Dec. 31. Wannstedt served as a linebackers coach and assistant head coach to Gailey in 2011 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2012. Under Wannstedt's direction, Buffalo's defense surrendered 362.9 yards per game this season, ranking 22nd in the NFL.
Tampa's hiring of Wannstedt isn't too surprising, considering Wannstedt's prior relationship with Bucs coach Greg Schiano. Schiano was a defensive assistant for three years (1996-98) in Chicago while Wannstedt was the head coach.
The two coaches also crossed paths several times in the college ranks while Wannstedt was coaching at Pittsburgh and Schiano was coaching at Rutgers. Schiano went 4-2 in six career games against Wannstedt.
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The Tampa special teams job will be Wannstedt's first special teams job in the NFL. However, the long-time coach did run the special teams at Pitt, according to ESPN.com. Wannstedt has held coaching positions with six different NFL clubs.
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