Greg Schiano Was On Bucs Radar From The Start

Read More: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly getting closer to hiring their next head coach. ESPN reports that the Bucs are negotiating with Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano and that a deal is expected to get done. This will mark the last of the remaining head coaching jobs to be filled.

Schiano's rise to the Bucs head coaching job seemingly came out of nowhere as he wasn't one of the numerous Bucs head coaching candidates who were made public. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Bucs have been on Schiano's radar from the start.

Schiano is an under-the-radar coach, but Tampa Bay has been eyeing him throughout this process. Buccaneers college scout Bill Rees made contact with Schiano at the outset of Tampa Bay's coaching search, and the two men stayed in contact.

Schefter also reported that the Glazer family, who owns the Bucs, did a "massive amount of research" on Schiano and one of the people they spoke with was Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who has spoken highly of Schiano in the past.

For more on the Bucs decision, visit SB Nation's Bucs blog, Bucs Nation. And for a Rutgers perspective, visit On The Banks.