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Bucs Add Yarno As Assistant

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By ROY CUMMINGS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

TAMPA - The Bucs dipped into their past to fill one of their coaching vacancies Friday.

In a move that would seem to spell the end of Aaron Kromer's tenure as a Tampa Bay senior assistant, the Bucs named former offensive lineman George Yarno their new assistant offensive line coach.

Yarno spent eight of his 11 NFL seasons playing for the Bucs after joining the league as an undrafted free agent in 1979. He has spent the last five years coaching linemen at Washington State University, his alma mater.

Since wrapping up his pro playing career, Yarno has coached offensive linemen at the University of Idaho, the University of Houston, Arizona State University and Louisiana State University under Nick Saban.

Seattle's Robbie Tobeck and San Diego's Nick Mihlhauser, a former Buc, are among the NFL linemen Yarno has helped groom during his time as a collegiate line coach.

Yarno played left tackle and left guard for the Bucs, starting 63 games, but some may remember him best for kicking an extra point in the 1983 season finale against Detroit.

Yarno is the first new addition to a coaching staff that will also add a new running backs coach, a new assistant defensive backs coach and probably a new quarterbacks coach.

Though he held the title senior assistant, Kromer worked primarily with the offensive line, aiding top line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Muir. Yarno will take over those duties.

The Bucs have talked to former Bills coach Mike Mularkey about a spot on their staff, but Mularkey is expected to accept a position on the Falcons' staff, probably as offensive coordinator.

The Bucs also have talked to Mike Alstott about becoming their running backs coach, but he indicated he probably would not be joining the staff in that capacity. Alstott retired as a player Thursday.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or at rcummings@tampatrib.com.

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