The Chicago Bears promoted Bob Babich from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator, one day after the team announced it would not retain Ron Rivera.

Babich, in his fourth year with the Bears, previously coached with Lovie Smith in St. Louis and the University of Tulsa. He was the Rams' linebackers coach when Smith was defensive coordinator. At Tulsa, he coached the tight ends while Smith worked with linebackers.

Babich was head coach at North Dakota State from 1997-2002 with a 46-22 record, including a 12-1 season in 2002 when the school reached the national semifinals.

Rivera's contract wasn't renewed after three seasons, even though the Bears went to the playoffs two years in a row and led the NFL this season with 44 takeaways. Chicago lost the Super Bowl to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 on Feb. 4.

Hours after the Bears announced Rivera would not return -- he'd talked with eight teams about their head coaching vacancies the last two years -- he was hired by San Diego to be the Chargers' linebackers coach.