Bucs hire Southern Miss coach Monken offensive coordinator

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Todd Monken is leaving Southern Mississippi to be the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The move Sunday reunites Monken with Bucs coach Dirk Koetter. The two also worked together in Jacksonville, where Koetter was the Jaguars offensive coordinator and Monken coached wide receivers for four seasons for 2007-2010.

Monken coached Southern Mississippi the past three seasons. He inherited a program that went 0-12 the year before his arrival and turned the Golden Eagles into a team that went 9-5, won the Conference USA West division and appeared in the Heart of Dallas Bowl this past season.

Southern Miss ranked in the top 20 in scoring, passing and total offense last season. His college coaching resume also includes a stint as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma State, where he tutored Brandon Weeden.

The Bucs promoted Koetter from offensive coordinator to head coach earlier this month, replacing Lovie Smith. He hired former Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith as his defensive coordinator and has said he will continue to call plays for quarterback Jameis Winston.

''I am very excited to add a coach with the type of experience and tenacity that Todd brings,'' Koetter said in a statement released by the Bucs.

''I have always been impressed with his approach to the game as well as his ability to teach concepts and get the best out of his players,'' Koetter added.

''During his more than 25-year coaching career, he has made a name for himself as a very successful offensive coordinator and head coach on the collegiate level.''

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