Bengals hire Marvin Lewis

Mobile, AL (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Bengals have hired Marvin Lewis to be the club's next head coach, filling the spot vacated by the firing of Dick LeBeau two weeks ago.

Lewis, a formidable defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins, becomes the ninth head coach in club history. He also joins Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy and Herman Edwards of the New York Jets as the only African-American coaches in the NFL.

Lewis was introduced at a news conference Tuesday night in Mobile, Alabama where Bengals officials are attending the collegiate Senior Bowl this upcoming weekend. He will reportedly make more than $1 million per year with Cincinnati.

The Bengals, who finished the 2002 season with a franchise-worst 2-14 record, had also considered former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for the position. Two Bengals' assistant coaches, defensive coordinator Mark Duffner and running backs coach Jim Anderson, were also interviewed.

"What we've got to get changed around is realize that as players sometimes you're part of the problem right now," said Lewis. "We have to make them part of the solution. That's something we have to transition into their minds."

The 44-year-old Lewis took control of the Baltimore Ravens defense in 1996, and he established himself as one the NFL's top coordinators. That reputation helped to net him a three-year deal worth at least $2.7 million from the Redskins this past offseason. The deal made Lewis the highest paid assistant coach in the NFL.

In the 2000 season, Lewis guided a Baltimore defense that set records for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season (165) while leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl title.

01/15 05:10:35 ET