Dirk Koetter to be named Buccaneers' new head coach

TAMPA (FOX 13) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be hiring current offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter as head coach in 2016, after the surprise firing of head coach Lovie Smith.

The Bucs announced they had "dismissed" Smith Jan. 6, just two years after he was hired.

"I am disappointed that we were not more successful these past few seasons, but we are committed to doing what is necessary to give our fans the winning team they deserve," team co-chairman Joel Glazer explained in a statement announcing the firing.

Koetter, 56, had been named as a likely head coaching candidate for other jobs around the NFL, including Miami.  He joined the Bucs as offensive coordinator last year.  In one season, he took the Bucs' offense from last in the league to fifth -- with three rookies.

He was a successful offensive coordinator in both Jacksonville and Atlanta before joining the Buccaneers.

Before coming to the NFL in 2007, Koetter went 26-10 during as head coach for three years at Boise State and 40-34 at as head coach at Arizona State.

He went 4-2 in bowl games between the two schools and was named Big West Coach of the Year twice.