The Indianapolis Colts have hired Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano as head coach.

The team said Pagano will be introduced at a news conference on Thursday. It will be the first head coaching job for the 51-year-old Pagano, who has been a career assistant until now with stops in Oakland and Cleveland in the NFL and stints at schools including Miami and North Carolina.

"It's difficult to leave the Ravens but I couldn't pass up on this great opportunity," Pagano said in a statement released by the Ravens. "I'm just thrilled and so excited."

Pagano interviewed with the Colts on Tuesday after Baltimore was eliminated from the playoffs Sunday in a 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

This season was Pagano's first in charge of the vaunted Ravens defense. Pagano followed Greg Mattison, who left Baltimore after two seasons as defensive coordinator for the same position at the University of Michigan in January 2011.

Under Pagano, Baltimore allowed the third-fewest points and yards in the league in 2011. Safety Ed Reed, linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and nose tackle Haloti Ngata also made the Pro Bowl under Pagano.

"I like it," Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Mathis wrote on Twitter.

Pagano replaces Jim Caldwell, who was fired after the Colts' 2-14 season in which quarterback Peyton Manning never played a down as he recovered from neck surgery.

The move is just the latest in a dizzying series of changes by owner Jim Irsay.

The Colts fired Caldwell last week after three seasons. The team went to the Super Bowl during Caldwell's first year, but this year locked up the No. 1 overall draft pick with a horrid performance that also cost team vice chairman Bill Polian and his son, general manager Chris, their jobs.