Bucs nearing deal with OC Koetter to become head coach

The Buccaneers are hiring offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter as their new head coach, according to multiple reports.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the Buccaneers are set to make Koetter the team’s new coach.

Koetter had been considered a favorite for the position once the Buccaneers fired Lovie Smith, who went 8-24 in two seasons with the organization. He helped guide an offense that included first-overall draft pick Jameis Winston and All-Pro running back Doug Martin.

Koetter, 56, is a coaching lifer. That means the Bucs will nearly certainly retain most of the offensive coach, if not all of it – even though most of the hires were Lovie Smith’s and came in before Koetter did past year.

Koetter also interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers to replace the fired Jim Tomsula.

The Bucs announced they had “dismissed” Smith Jan. 6, just two years after he was hired. Winston had a decent rookie season, completing 58.3 percent of his passes for 4,042 yards with 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Koetter had similar success with QBs as an offensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons.

He worked his way up the collegiate football ladder as an offensive coordinator at various schools, including Boston College and OR, before his first head coaching job at Boise State (1998-2000), where he led the Broncos to two bowl game appearances and first place Big West Conference finishes.

In one season with Tampa Bay, Koetter transformed a dormant offense.