JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - New Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey is close to completing his staff.
Mularkey hired former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Greg Olson as quarterbacks coach and former New Orleans secondary coach Tony Oden to the same position Thursday. The moves leave the Jaguars with just a few open spots, including running backs coach, receivers coach and special teams coordinator.
The team interviewed former Illinois and Florida head coach Ron Zook for the special teams opening Wednesday and former St. Louis Rams running backs coach Sylvester Croom for the same position.
Olson is entering his 11th season in the NFL. He spent the last four years in Tampa, one as quarterbacks coach and three as offensive coordinator. He also served as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions in 2005 and St. Louis Rams in 2006-07.
In Jacksonville, he will be tasked with getting more out of rookie Blaine Gabbert. The former Missouri star struggled in his first season, completing 51 percent of his passes for 2,214 yards and 12 touchdowns. He threw 11 interceptions, lost five fumbles and was sacked 40 times.
Olson has 25 years of coaching experience, including 15 in college and 10 in the NFL. His resume includes quarterbacks Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay), Marc Bulger (St. Louis), Jeff Garcia (San Francisco) and Drew Brees (Purdue).
Oden was an assistant defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints for five seasons before being promoted to secondary coach last season. He went to high school with Jaguars defensive coordinator Mel Tucker in Ohio, a relationship that helped him land the job. He also was given the title of assistant head coach.
Other coaches include Tucker, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, linebackers coach Mark Duffner, defensive line coach Joe Cullen, assistant defensive line coach Paul Spicer, assistant defensive backs coach Marlon McCree, defensive assistant Brandon Blaney and assistant special teams coach Craig Aukerman.
