Buccaneers fire coach Dirk Koetter after 3 seasons
Posted December 30, 2018 4:47 pm.
Last Updated December 30, 2018 5:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TAMPA, Fla. — Dirk Koetter has been fired as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The team made the announcement Sunday night, a little more than three hours after the Bucs concluded a disappointing season with a 34-32 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Koetter was promoted from offensive co-ordinator to his first NFL head coaching position when Tampa Bay fired Lovie Smith in January 2016. He led the Bucs to a 9-7 record that year, but followed up with consecutive 5-11 finishes.
The Bucs started 2-0 this year, and then lost 11 of 14 down the stretch, including four straight games to finish the season.
Koetter, who had a 19-29 record, was dismissed after meeting with team ownership after Sunday’s game.
“We sincerely appreciate the hard work and commitment shown by Dirk over the past several years,” Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement.
Glazer said general manager Jason Licht would begin the search for a new coach immediately.
