East Texas native and former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith is the new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Smith will take over and reconstruct the Bucs defense, which was depleted in 2013. Smith coached the Bears from 2004-2012, led them to 5 divisional titles and one Super Bowl appearance where they were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.

He went 81-63 in nine seasons with the Bears.

Smith is a 1976 graduate of Big Sandy High School, where he helped the Wildcats win three straight state championships in one of the most dominant eras by any team in Texas high school football history.

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