Alan Williams

Former Vikings defensive coordinator Alan Williams will reportedly be hired as the Lions' secondary coach. (AP Photo)

MOBILE, Ala. -- Teryl Austin is a first-time NFL defensive coordinator, but the Detroit Lions have surrounded him with a wealth of experience.

That apparently will include Alan Williams as his secondary coach, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Williams is a former longtime defensive backs coach for the Colts, working on staffs with new Lions coach Jim Caldwell from 2002-11.

He had been the Vikings' defensive coordinator the past two years. Minnesota was 17th in defense in 2012, then plummeted to 31st last year

Willams was fired this offseason, along with head coach Leslie Frazier and much of that staff, and now reportedly has landed on Detroit's staff.

That means Austin will have two assistants under him who were NFC coordinators last season. Williams joins new linebackers coach Bill Sheridan, who was Tampa Bay's coordinator the past two years.

That could offer some padding for Austin should he incur growing pains in his debut as an NFL coordinator (though he did lead Florida's defense in 2010).

"It's like any new job -- there's always going to be some growing pains," Austin said this week. "I think the first thing you do is you have to get to know your guys, when it's time, and see how they react to situations. And then you build from there. Football is football, and we have a lot of good coaches on our staff. We'll have a lot of good coaches, I'm sure, when it's all put together.

"The thing is, I'm the coordinator, but we all work together to put the best product on the field."

The Lions' lone major coaching vacancy now is at receiver. Tim Lippano was among the first wave of firings.

Detroit could also hire a dedicated quarterback coach for Matthew Stafford, though it's unclear if it will. Caldwell and new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi both have extensive experience coaching that position.

The Lions staff now features six new members, including Caldwell, Lombardi, Austin, Williams, Sheridan and tight end/assistant head coach Ron Prince.