Mark Dominik proved this weekend that a prosperous playing career is not a prerequisite for running an NFL franchise.
Despite not playing varsity football in high school or college, Dominik, a Lawrence High and Kansas University graduate, was named Saturday as the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dominik, 37, replaces former general manager Bruce Allen, who was fired Friday along with head coach Jon Gruden.
A St. Cloud, Minn., native, Dominik joined the Bucs’ staff in 1995 as a pro personnel assistant after spending a year and a half working as a part of the Kansas City Chiefs organization. He was given the title of pro scout in 1998 and in 2000 was promoted to coordinator of pro personnel, where he served eight seasons and helped Tampa Bay earn its first Super Bowl victory against Oakland in 2002.
Dominik and wife Amy, who also attended KU, have a 2-year-old son, Davis, and mother Sharon Dominik remains a Lawrence resident.
Among the members of Dominik’s staff will be Dennis Hickey, a former Lawrence High classmate who played linebacker for the Lions. Hickey, who played football at Coffeyville Community College before moving on to Tulsa University, has spent the past two seasons as the Bucs’ director of college scouting.
Tampa Bay fired six members of Gruden’s staff Sunday: offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Bill Muir, defensive quality-control coaches Johnny Cox and Ejiro Evero, offensive assistant Jay Gruden, strength and conditioning coach Mike Morris and assistant offensive line coach George Yarno.