INDIANAPOLIS -
Colts Coach Chuck Pagano is building his new staff after the team began cleaning house at the end of a dismal 2-14 2011 season.
The team announced that Bruce Arians will be the team's new offensive coordinator. It is the first move by the club since naming Pagano to his post last week.
The team also relieved tight ends coach Ricky Thomas and assistant offensive line coach Ron Prince from their responsibilities.
The Colts say this is a homecoming for Arians, who served with Indianapolis from 1998-2000 as quarterbacks coach.
The Colts hired Ryan Grigson as general manager earlier this month after firing the Polians.
Arians served for the past five years (2007-11) as offensive coordinator with Pittsburgh. He has 19 years experience in the NFL and more than 35 years overall counting his collegiate career.
Following a 3-13 mark in his first season, Arians helped Indianapolis make a 10-game jump to 13-3 with a vibrant offense featuring young performers virtually across the board. Indianapolis won the AFC East and reached the Divisional Round, then followed the performance the next year with a 10-6 mark and a second consecutive playoff berth. Arians tutored quarterback Peyton Manning to consecutive 4,000-yard seasons in his last two years with the team, with Manning tossing 26 and 33 touchdown passes in those seasons. The 33 scoring passes by Manning in 2000 then marked the team seasonal record.
(Info from Colts.com.)
