TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired former University of North Carolina coach Butch Davis as a "special assistant" to new coach Greg Schiano.
The Bucs announced the hire Monday, saying Davis would "advise Schiano in a wide range of football aspects." In a statement, Schiano called Davis a friend and mentor going back to the time when Schiano worked on Davis' staff at Miami.
Davis was fired by North Carolina just before training camp last season amid the NCAA investigation of improper benefits and academic misconduct within the Tar Heels' football program.
Davis was never cited for or linked to any violation during the investigation. Chancellor Holden Thorp said he made the change because of cumulative damage done to the university's reputation. At the time, Thorp said Davis could receive about $2.7 million in contractual obligations that run through 2015.
Davis received $933,500 of the buyout by the end of 2011. He also was scheduled to receive three annual payments of $590,000 starting next January, though those payments would be reduced by any compensation he received for coaching a college or pro team.
It's unclear whether Davis' new role as a special assistant to Schiano would trigger that clause.
Davis previously had been an assistant to Jimmy Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys and was head coach of the Cleveland Browns. He took over at North Carolina before the 2007 season.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
