EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) _ The Minnesota Vikings made Steve Loney their new offensive coordinator Thursday, a day after the Miami Dolphins lured Scott Linehan away with a three-year contract.
The 52-year-old Loney also will retain his position as offensive line coach, which he has held for three years.
We are happy to be able to keep some continuity on our offensive staff by promoting Steve Loney,'' Vikings coach Mike Tice said.He has proven himself during his coaching career and has been key to our success here during the previous three seasons.''
Loney was offensive coordinator at the University of Minnesota in 1998-99 and at his alma mater, Iowa State, from 1995-97 and 2000-01. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa State in 1974.
He inherits an offense that's been one of the NFL's best. The Vikings ranked second in the league in 2002, first in 2003 and fourth in 2004 in total yardage.
When you look at what we have here offensively, the expectations should be high,'' Loney said.There's a school of thought that all you've got to do is put it in drive and sit back and watch it. I hope I have a little more to do with it than that.''
Linehan left after deciding the job security the Dolphins offered was too good to pass up. Tice is under contract only through next season, and Vikings owner Red McCombs has the team on the market.
Terms of Loney's deal were not disclosed.
