Falcons Hire Former Bears Coach Mike Tice For OL
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons say Mike Tice will become their new offensive line coach.
The team announced the move Wednesday. Tice replaces Pat Hill and Paul Dunn, who were fired after the Falcons completed a 4-12 season. Atlanta also dismissed defensive line coach Ray Hamilton.
Tice took over as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for the last game of the 2001 and held the job for the next four seasons. He compiled a record of 32-33, including one playoff appearance.
Most recently, the 54-year-old Tice served as offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears in 2012. He was out of coaching this past season.
Tice is charged with improving a beleaguered line that allowed quarterback Matt Ryan to be sacked a career-high 44 times.
(© 2014 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)