Former Cincinnati Bengals coach Sam Wyche is expected to be named coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today, according to news reports, although Wyche himself denied those reports.
Bucs owner Hugh Culverhouse, who is to be in Cincinnati today for board meetings unrelated to football, offered the Buccaneers' head coaching job Thursday night and Wyche accepted, according to WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.WKRC-TV also reported that Wyche was offered the job, and WLWT-TV said it had a reporter at Wyche's house when the call came from the Buccaneers.
The Tampa Tribune is reporting in today's editions that Wyche said early Thursday night that he had not been offered the job and any reports that he had were "absolutely false."
Bucs vice president Stephen Story had said that a decision might be reached as soon as today, but Story had no comment when asked about further interviews with candidates.
"To the best of my knowledge, it's Mr. Culverhouse's decision and I don't know of any decision that has been reached," Story said.
Wyche, who was head coach of the Bengals for eight years, left the team on Christmas Eve after meeting with general manager Mike Brown. Wyche said he was fired on the heels of a 3-13 season, but Brown said Wyche quit.
Culverhouse also talked with Buddy Ryan, Floyd Peters and Mike Holmgren, as well as Bill Parcells, who turned down the job.
Earlier Thursday, the Bucs squashed rumors that Lindy Infante was a candidate for the team's coaching vacancy, saying they have not and do not anticipate interviewing the former Green Bay coach.
Infante was fired by the Packers on Dec. 22. He reportedly was headed for Florida on Wednesday, presumably to talk to Culverhouse.
The Bucs statement Thursday also said that the reports that Wyche was in Tampa for talks again were untrue.