By: Dory LeBlanc

Last week, the Bucs-Assistant-To-Leave-For-A-Head Coaching-Job rumor was that special assistant Butch Davis would be taking over for outted FIU skipper Mario Cristobal.

It was denied by Jon Sasser, Davis' attorney, and was later reported that a contract dispute between Davis and the University of North Carolina prohibited him from taking the job.

Now another Bucs assistant is taking the job instead.

ESPN's Brett McMurphy tweeted around 10:30 Thursday night that QB Coach Ron Turner will be the new head coach of the Golden Panthers.

Pete Garcia, FIU's athletic director, told the Tampa Bay Times "I'm very excited to get this guy" and that he took the advice of Bucs head coach Greg Schiano, as well as Colts coach Chuck Pagano.

A press conference is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Before joining Greg Schiano's staff this season, Turner spent the previous two years with Indianapolis as first a WR coach, then coached quarterbacks, but is best known for his two stints as the Bears' offensive coordinator (1993-96, 2005-09) and as the head coach of the University of Illinois (1997-2004) between his two tours in Chicago.   

While with Tampa Bay, Turner, the brother of Norv Turner, helped Josh Freeman throw for over 4,000 yards and set a franchise record for most passing touchdowns in a single-season.