With the late hire of new Bucs' head coach Greg Schiano, Tampa Bay finds themselves behind the eight ball in the race to fill their staff from an ever-shrinking pool of potential coaches. In the last two weeks quality coaches like Brad Childress, Mike Nolan, Mike Sherman and Bruce Arians among them, have been hired by other clubs.

A head coach is critical to an organization but arguably the choice of coordinators and assistants could have even a bigger impact on the success of the Buccaneers’ franchise.

So who is left? Below is a list of a few potential coaches that could join the Buccaneers as offensive coordinator. Tomorrow PewterReport will present a list of defensive coaches that are still available.

John McNulty
Thought to be Schiano’s top choice, the Arizona Cardinals prohibited the Buccaneers from interviewing McNulty who is currently the Cardinals receiver’s coach. McNulty was on the Rutgers staff under Schiano until 2008 and produced school record-setting numbers during his tenure in New Jersey.

Besides Arizona McNulty coached with the Jaguars (1998-02) and with the Cowboys in 2003 before joining Schiano at Rutgers.

While management and ownership is probably upset with the denial to interview McNulty, the Glazers themselves prevented former Tampa Bay linebackers coach Joe Barry from joining his father-in-law Rod Marenelli as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions while he was still under contract with the Buccaneers.

Reports have surfaced that McNulty, who was in Hawaii as a guest of Larry Fitzgerald last week, is trying to work out a way to be released from his current contract with the Cardinals.

Hue Jackson
The departure of Jackson as Raiders head coach after just one season in Oakland left many Raiders' fans confused and bewildered. Jackson was dealt the unlucky blow of losing starting quarterback Jason Campbell to injury midway through the 2011 season yet still just missed the playoffs. Jackson is an outspoken personality and some feel that may have also contributed to his ouster.

Of all the candidates still available Jackson has the most experience, serving as offensive coordinator at USC then shifting his talents to the NFL where he was the coordinator in Washington, Cincinnati and Oakland before landing the Raiders top job. Jackson has also coached wide receivers, running back and quarterbacks during his NFL career giving him an extra perspective over some of the other candidates.

Tom Clements
Clements was rumored to be a candidate to join the Joe Philbin’s Miami Dolphins coaching staff last week before the Dolphins hired formers Packers head coach Mike Sherman. Currently the Packers quarterbacks coach, Clements has been expected to be named as Philbin’s replacement as Packers’ offensive coordinator but the title change hasn’t taken place as of yet.

If Clements isn’t promoted in the Packers organization the Buccaneers would more than likely be interested in interviewing him for their vacant offensive coordinator position. With the proven track record of helping to develop Aaron Rodgers and even backup Matt Flynn, who will be a hot commodity in free agency this year after starting just one game in Green Bay earlier this year and setting a franchise record with six touchdown passes, Clements should be on the Bucs’ radar.

Todd Haley
Former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley is still available and has a nice pedigree as an offensive mind having served as offensive coordinator in Arizona in 2007 and 2008. The success of the Cardinals offense led by Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin earned Haley the Kansas City head-coaching job in 2009, and like former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris, produced a 10-6 season in 2010 before faltering this season resulting in his firing.

Besides his time in Kansas City and Arizona Haley has coached with the Jets, Bears and Cowboys. Recent reports have him as a possible candidate to replace Bruce Arians in Pittsburgh.

Frank Cignetti Jr.
As the current offensive coordinator at Rutgers it is only natural that the Schiano and Tampa Bay would show some interest in Cignetti who took over the Scarlet Knights’ offense after McNulty joined the Cardinals.

Cignetti also served as offensive coordinator at Fresno State, California and the University of North Carolina.

Although he spent three seasons in the NFL as a quarterbacks coach (San Francisco, New Orleans) Cignetti is probably low on the Buccaneers’ wish list with his limited league experience.

Other Names That May Be Considered
Two names with ties to Schiano are Jets quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh and Ravens offensive assistant Craig Ver Steeg. Cavanaugh was the offensive coordinator when Schiano coached with the Bears and Ver Steeg was Schiano’s offensive coordinator at Rutgers with Schiano from 2003 to 2006.

Other potential candidates could include Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, who is also being considered for the same position with the Steelers, and Patriots offensive assistant and former Broncos’ head coach Josh McDaniel.