Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Browns have hired their next head coach in Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.
Chudzinski becomes the Browns' sixth head coach since 1999, the previous two lasting only two years. After finishing a disappointing 5-11 campaign this past season, the team fired Pat Shurmur after he went 9-23 in his two years at the helm.
Chudzinski has had two previous stints in the Browns' organization, first serving as tight ends coach in 2004 and as offensive coordinator in 2007-08. After the second stint, the Toledo, Ohio-native spent two years as assistant head coach of the San Diego Chargers under head coach Norv Turner, who the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports may join Chudzinski's staff in the near future.
In his first season as Panthers offensive coordinator in 2011, Chudzinski directed an offense that a set team record for total yards and had the second most touchdowns in franchise history.
Chudzinski was an assistant coach at his alma mater -- the University of Miami -- from 1994-2003.
