By ANDREW SELIGMAN

CHICAGO (AP) - The Bears have hired Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman to replace the fired Lovie Smith.

 

It's the first head coaching job in the NFL for Trestman, a long-time NFL assistant who spent the past five seasons coaching the CFL's Alouettes and led them to two Grey Cup titles.

 

Trestman was an offensive coordinator with San Francisco, Arizona and Oakland. The Bears hope he can get the most out of quarterback Jay Cutler and help them reach the playoffs on a consistent basis.

 

Chicago general manager Phil Emery met with at least 13 candidates. Besides Trestman, he also brought back Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and the Indianapolis Colts' Bruce Arians for second interviews.

 

Smith was let go after Chicago missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.

 

Copyright © 2013 Associated Press

 

(CHICAGO) Don't know much about the Canadian Football League? Better study up .

 

The Bears have chosen Marc Trestman to replace Lovie Smith as head coach.

 

Trestman won back-to-back Grey Cup championships as coach of the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football Leauge, racking up a 64-34 record in five years as head coach.

 

Trestman isn't a complete stranger to the NFL, but has been gone for eight years.

 

Known as a quarterback guru, Trestman spend most of his life coaching passers. He was Bernie Kosar's quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami in 1983 when the Hurricanes won the national championship. He also went on to guide Kosar, Steve Young, Scott Mitchell, Jake Plummer and Rich Gannon in the NFL.

 

The Bears are no doubt hoping he will be able to get the most out of Jay Cutler and whoever else may come along during his time as head coach.

 

The Bears will formally introduce Trestman at a news conference Thursday morning.

 

He will be the 14th head coach in team history.

 

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