TAMPA — On a muggy October afternoon in 2007, Jacksonville assistants Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith entered the visitor’s locker room at Raymond James Stadium and finalized their preparations to help the Jaguars beat the Bucs.
Times, and fortunes, have changed markedly.
On Friday, in his new role as Tampa Bay’s head coach, Koetter proudly announced the hiring of Smith as defensive coordinator. The long-time associates will work together for the third time, Smith tasked with running the Bucs defense.
“Essentially, Dirk will let Mike be the head coach of our defense,’’ Bucs general manager Jason Licht said after Koetter’s emotional introductory news conference.