Chargers Fire Defensive Coordinator Manusky

(NewsCore) - The San Diego Chargers announced Thursday they have fired defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.

Manusky, 45, took the coordinator job in March after Ron Rivera departed to take the head coaching job in Carolina.

The Chargers defense -- ranked first in yards allowed per game in 2010 under Rivera -- fell to 16th this season. The team also fell from 10th to 22nd in points allowed per game.

The drop in production, coupled with a disappointing 8-8 season, has led to Manusky becoming the first casualty on the Chargers staff this offseason.

Chargers linebackers coach John Pagano has been named the team's new defensive coordinator.

"John has worked extremely hard and been very patient to get this opportunity," head coach Norv Turner said in a statement on the team's website. "I'm excited about John's experience with this defense, his familiarity with our team and where we can go with his direction."

Pagano said it was vital the team got back to playing "fundamentally sound defense."

"It's still about tackling the guy with the football and getting after the quarterback and covering people downfield," he said. "We're going to do what we need to do to help the Chargers win football games."

Chargers chairman and president Dean Spanos announced Tuesday that Turner and general manager A.J. Smith would return for the 2012 season, ending speculation that significant changes would take place within the team's hierarchy.

San Diego was expected to be a top AFC contender in 2011, but the team lost six straight in October and November following a 4-1 start to the season.

Manusky previously ran the defense in San Francisco from 2007-2010, but opted to leave the Niners after the team hired Jim Harbaugh as its head coach. He also served as a linebackers coach for the Redskins and Chargers before his promotion in San Francisco.