Bucs officially hire Butch Davis

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As expected, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired Butch Davis as a special assistant to new head coach Greg Schiano.

The team made the official announcement Monday afternoon, although there had been multiple reports in past weeks that Davis would be joining the team. The Bucs made it clear Davis will assist and advise Schiano, but will not take on any on-field coaching duties.

Davis was fired from the University of 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.

He received $933,500 of the buyout by the end of 2011. He was also 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 his new role as a special assistant to Schiano would trigger that clause.

Davis previously coached the Cleveland Browns and was the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator. He also was the head coach at the University of Miami. Schiano worked as defensive coordinator for the Hurricanes under Davis.

In all, 14 Tar Heels missed at least one game and seven were forced to sit the entire season in 2010. The school has already issued its own penalties by vacating all 16 wins from 2008 and 2009, reducing scholarships and putting the football program on probation.

The school appeared before the NCAA infractions committee in late October. The NCAA could issue a ruling any day on whether it will impose additional penalties.

Pat Yasinskas covers the NFC South for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pat Yasinskas | email

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• ESPN NFC South Blogger
• Joined ESPN in 2008
• Began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990