As expected and reported earlier this afternoon the Tampa Bay Buccaneers  have officially announced that they have hired Bill Sheridan as defensive coordinator.



"Bill is a great teacher who brings a tremendous understanding of defensive football to the Buccaneers organization," said Head Coach Greg Schiano. "Over the last three decades, he has had the opportunity to work under some great head coaches like Bo Schembechler, Nick Saban, Lloyd Carr, and Tom Coughlin. His experience and knowledge will be a great benefit to our defensive staff."

Sheridan, a 31-year coaching veteran, has coached seven years in the NFL including five with the New York Giants as linebackers coach (2005-08) and defensive coordinator (2009) and the past two seasons as linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins (2010-11).

As a member of the Dolphins' defensive staff, Sheridan helped lead a formidable linebacker unit that included Cameron Wake, Jason Taylor, Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett. Wake recorded 22.5 sacks over the last two seasons, including 14.0 in 2010, which ranked third in the NFL and was the eighth highest total in team history, earning him Pro Bowl honors. This season, Burnett and Dansby each recorded over 100 tackles, two sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

While with the Giants, Sheridan helped mold middle linebacker Antonio Pierce into a Pro Bowler and leader of the 2007 Super Bowl champion's defensive unit.

In 2007, the Giants ranked seventh in the NFL in total defense, eighth in rushing defense and 11th in passing defense, while leading the league in sacks. The unit then had a dominant four-game run in the playoffs, allowing a postseason-low 16.3 points per game. The season culminated with a victory in Super Bowl XLII over the New England Patriots, where the Giants held the highest-scoring offense in NFL history to just 14 points.

The following season the Giants' defense improved to fifth overall, ninth in rushing defense and eighth in passing defense. In Sheridan's lone season as the defensive coordinator, the Giants ranked 13th in total defense, 14th against the rush and 15th versus the pass.

Other Giants linebackers who benefited from Sheridan's tutelage included Carlos Emmons, Brandon Short, LaVar Arrington, Kawika Mitchell, Chase Blackburn and Mathias Kiwanuka, whom Sheridan guided through a transition from defensive end.

Prior to joining the Giants, Sheridan had extensive coaching experience with some of the most iconic collegiate football programs, having served as linebackers coach (2002) and defensive line coach (2003-04) with the University of Michigan, safeties and special teams coach (2001) with Notre Dame and linebackers coach (1998-2000) with Michigan State University.

In his time at Michigan, the team carried a 29-9 record, while earning two trips to the Rose Bowl and a 2002 victory over Florida in the Outback Bowl. They also finished ranked in the AP Top 25 in all three seasons (#9 in 2002, #6 in 2003 and #14 in 2004). He helped coach LB Victor Hobson and DT Gabe Watson to All-Big 10 honors.

In his one year directing the safeties at Notre Dame, he helped tutor Gerome Sapp and Abram Elam, who both went on to NFL careers.

In 1999, Sheridan coached under Nick Saban as Michigan State went on to a 10-2 record, a #7 national ranking, and a win over Florida in the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Sheridan began his coaching career at Shrine High School in Royal Oak, Mich., from 1981-84. He was then a graduate assistant at Michigan for two seasons before coaching linebackers at three schools - Maine, Cincinnati and Army - from 1987-95. In 1996 and 1997, Sheridan coached the defensive backs at West Point.

Sheridan is a native of Detroit and earned four letters as a linebacker at Grand Valley State University. He and his wife, Jaycine, have four children: Joe, Nick, Mark and Natalie.

Former NFL linebacker Bryan Cox was also hired today and confirmed to PewterReport.com by a source in the organization. Cox, a 12-year NFL veteran is expected to coach the pass rush as he has in prior coaching stops in New York, Cleveland and Miami.

In 165 career NFL games he recorded 764 tackles, recorded 51.5 quarterback sacks, nabed four interceptions, and forced 22 fumbles.