As has been widely expected since the moment they fired Lovie Smith, the Buccaneers have hired Dirk Koetter as their next head coach.
Koetter was the offensive coordinator under Smith, and the Bucs’ decision to fire Smith was widely viewed as a response to concerns that Koetter could be hired away by another team. Although the Bucs went through the motions of a job search and Koetter went through the motions of a job search, there was never any doubt.
“We are excited to announce that Dirk Koetter will lead the Buccaneers as our new head coach,” said Buccaneers Co-Chairman Joel Glazer. ”Dirk has established himself as one of the top offensive coaches in our game while enjoying success at every stop during his college and NFL career. His success with our offense last season, along with his familiarity with our players and our organization, makes Dirk the right man to lead our team moving forward.”
Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston had a promising rookie season in Koetter’s offense, and this hiring will provide stability to Winston. The question is whether it yields more wins, something the Bucs have been sorely lacking.