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Dirk Koetter
File:Dirk Koetter 2013.jpg
Koetter with the Atlanta Falcons in 2013
Atlanta Falcons
Position:Offensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1959-02-05) February 5, 1959 (age 65)
Pocatello, Idaho
Career information
High school:Pocatello (ID) Highland
College:Idaho State University
Career history
As coach:
* Highland HS (1983–1984)
Head coach
Career highlights and awards
* 2× Big West championship (1999, 2000)
Head coaching record
Regular season:NCAA: .600 NFL: .396
Postseason:NCAA bowls: .667
Career:NCAA: .603 NFL: .396
Coaching stats at PFR

Dirk Jeffrey Koetter (/ˈkʌtər/ KUT-ər;[1] born February 5, 1959) is an American football coach who is the current offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) where he previously served as the offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2014 under then head coach, Mike Smith. He was previously the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016 to 2018. He was the head coach at Boise State University from 1998 to 2000 and at Arizona State University from 2001 to 2006, compiling a career college football record of .600. Koetter was also the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Falcons, and Buccaneers.

Early years[]

Koetter grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, the son of Jim Koetter, a German American football coach. A quarterback, he graduated from Highland High School in 1977 and stayed in town to play college football at Idaho State University,[2][3] receiving a bachelor's degree in 1981 and a master's in athletic administration in 1982.

Coaching career[]

High school and College coaching[]

Koetter was the head coach at Highland High School for two seasons (1983, 1984), then became a full-time college assistant coach in 1985 as the offensive coordinator at San Francisco State University. After his time at San Francisco State, he coached at UTEP (1986–1988), Missouri (1989–1993), Boston College (1994–1995), and Oregon (1996–1997).

Koetter was the head coach for three seasons at Boise State from 1998 to 2000, then moved to Arizona State in 2001.[4] His record with the Broncos was 26–10 (.722), with two Big West Conference titles and two bowl victories and was named Big West Coach of the Year twice. At Arizona State, Koetter compiled a 40–34 (.541) record, and four Bowl appearances in six years. Under Koetter, who was also the offensive play caller, the Sun Devils became known for a vertical passing attack. On November 26, 2006, The Arizona Republic reported that Koetter was being terminated as Arizona State football coach.[5] His final game was the 2006 Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve, a 41–24 loss.

Jacksonville Jaguars[]

In 2007, Koetter accepted the position of offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). In his first year in the NFL, he had immediate success setting franchise records for total points scored and yards gained while helping the Jaguars to an 11–5 record. In his five seasons with the Jaguars, the team cumulatively ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards over that time span in addition to having the NFL's leading rusher in Maurice Jones-Drew in 2010.

Atlanta Falcons[]

On January 15, 2012, Koetter was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.[6] On January 2, 2013, the Falcons signed Koetter to a contract extension that ran through the 2014 season. Koetter and the Falcons appeared in the NFC Championship Game in 2013 but lost 24-28 to the San Francisco 49ers, whom had made their first Super Bowl in 18 years.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers[]

Koetter was hired by the Falcons' division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers to become their offensive coordinator in 2015.[7] After the firing of Lovie Smith, Koetter was hired on January 15, 2016 as the head coach.[8] After posting a 9–7 record in 2016 and barely missing the playoffs, the Buccaneers had high expectations for the 2017 campaign. However, Koetter and the Buccaneers failed to meet those expectations, slipping to a 5–11 record. Despite regressing in his second year as the Buccaneers coach, on December 29, 2017, the Buccaneers announced they would retain Koetter for the 2018 season.[9] After another 5–11 season, the Buccaneers fired Koetter on December 30, 2018.[10]

Atlanta Falcons (second stint)[]

On January 8, 2019, Koetter was re-hired as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.[11]

Head coaching record[]

College[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Boise State Broncos (Big West Conference) (1998–2000)
1998 Boise State 6–5 2–3 4th
1999 Boise State 10–3 5–1 1st W Humanitarian
2000 Boise State 10–2 5–0 1st W Humanitarian
Boise State: 26–10 12–4
Arizona State Sun Devils (Pacific-10 Conference) (2001–2006)
2001 Arizona State 4–7 1–7 9th
2002 Arizona State 8–6 5–3 3rd L Holiday
2003 Arizona State 5–7 2–6 T–8th
2004 Arizona State 9–3 5–3 T–3rd W Sun 20 19
2005 Arizona State 7–5 4–4 4th W Insight
2006 Arizona State 7–6 4–5 T–5th L Hawaii
Arizona State: 40–34 21–28
Total: 66–44
Indicates BCS bowl, Bowl Alliance or Bowl Coalition game. #Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

NFL[]

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
TB 2016 9 7 0 .563 2nd in NFC South
TB 2017 5 11 0 .313 4th in NFC South
TB 2018 5 11 0 .313 4th in NFC South
Total 19 29 0 .396 0 0

Coaching tree[]

NFL head coaches under whom Koetter has served:

Among Koetter's assistant coaches who have later become head coaches at the NCAA Division I level:

Personal life[]

Koetter and his wife, Kim, have four kids, Kaylee, Kendra, Derek, and Davis.

References[]

  1. Stroud, Rick. "Emotional Dirk Koetter takes over as Bucs coach," Tampa Bay Times, Saturday, January 16, 2016.
  2. Emerson, Paul (October 7, 1979). "Vandals stop ISU for 3rd straight win". Lewiston Morning Tribune ((Idaho)): p. 1D. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WMpeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4281%2C2621930.
  3. "Broncos trample ISU". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press ((Idaho)): p. 6D. October 21, 1979. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XcFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mjEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3608%2C2270647.
  4. "Dirk Koetter Becomes 21st ASU Football Coach". Sun Devil Athletics. December 2, 2000. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160213101001/http://www.thesundevils.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30300. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  5. Metcalfe, Jeff (November 26, 2006). "Koetter out as ASU football coach". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/1126koetter-ON-CR.html. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  6. "Falcons hire Dirk Koetter as new OC". ESPN. January 15, 2012. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7464326/atlanta-falcons-hire-dirk-koetter-new-offensive-coordinator. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  7. Yasinskas, Pat (January 8, 2015). "Dirk Koetter to run Bucs offense". ESPN. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12139127/tampa-bay-buccaneers-name-dirk-koetter-new-offensive-coordinator. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  8. Smith, Scott (January 15, 2016). "Dirk Koetter Named Buccaneers Head Coach". NFL.com. http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Dirk-Koetter-Named-Buccaneers-Head-Coach/7247fcc8-e86e-468a-9c52-a3dc832f121d. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  9. Wagner-McGough, Sean (December 29, 2017). "Buccaneers will shockingly retain coach Dirk Koetter, ending Jon Gruden rumors". CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/buccaneers-will-shockingly-retain-coach-dirk-koetter-ending-jon-gruden-rumors/. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  10. Laine, Jenna (December 30, 2018). "Dirk Koetter out as Bucs coach after going 5-11 in 3rd season". http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25649986/dirk-koetter-tampa-bay-buccaneers-head-coach. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  11. "Falcons hire former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter as new OC" (in en). http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001009064/article/falcons-hire-former-bucs-coach-dirk-koetter-as-new-oc.

External links[]

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