- STORY: Mike Tice out as Bears offensive coordinator?
- PHOTOS: Pictures of Marc Trestman
- PHOTOS: Look back at the Bears coaching candidates
Marc Trestman will take the helm of the team after spending the last five seasons coaching in the Canadian Football League.
After a two-week search, the Bears finally have their man.
Trestman, who turned 57 Tuesday, was named the 14th head coach of the franchise.
This is Trestman's first head coaching job in the NFL.
Trestman was previously the head coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, where he won back-to-back titles. He has been in Montreal since 2008, but he started coaching in the NFL in 1985, beginning as a running backs coach with the Vikings.
Before his move to Montreal, Trestman was the offensive coordinator of the Raiders, who led the league in offense and went to Super Bowl XXXVII. His quarterback, Rich Gannon, was the 2002 MVP. He spent a season with the Dolphins, then he went back to school, spending a couple years as offensive coordinator at North Carolina State.
Trestman was also was Steve Young's offensive coordinator with the 49ers. The NFL Hall of Fame quarterback told ABC7 he believes Trestman would be a good fit in Chicago.
"I love him. I mean, he is a dynamic straight shooter. He is a soft spoken guy, but you're going to get a guy that, I think, the Bears -- with their defensive history -- this is going to be a great hire... keep that tradition up and watch the flowering of a great offense," said Young. "I know Marc. He has been thinking about this a long time. He knows the names. He knows the people. He's got it set up so he can be effective in all the places he needs to be. Don't confuse yourself. Marc Trestman is not just an offensive coordinator. He's a head coach."
Trestman has also mentored collegiate quarterbacks, including Jay Cutler, as they prepared for the NFL Combine, a news release from the Bears said.
Trestman wasted little time starting to assemble his staff.
A person familiar with the situation said the Bears have hired New Orleans Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer as their offensive coordinator, hoping to revive an attack that often sputtered with Mike Tice calling the plays. The person spoke Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced.
Kromer served as the Saints' head coach for six games this season while interim head coach Joe Vitt was suspended for his role in the bounty scandal. Saints coach Sean Payton had to sit out the year.
Bears special teams coach Dave Toub was the first assistant to leave after Lovie Smith's firing. He is the Chiefs' new special teams coordinator. Toub was replaced Wednesday by Joe DeCamillis, who was with the Dallas Cowboys.
Trestman and his wife Cindy have two daughters, Sarahanne and Chloe.
The Chicago Bears have scheduled a news conference at 11 a.m. Thursday to detail the announcement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
