CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers made it official Friday, announcing that special teams coach Richard Rodgers has been reassigned to the defensive staff.

Bruce DeHaven has been elevated to replace Rodgers, whose 2014 unit statistically ranked among the worst in the NFL in four key categories. Among those was scoring as Carolina gave up a league-high four special teams touchdowns.

Rodgers will assist with the defensive backs in his new role. He spent six seasons as the defensive coordinator at Holy Cross, where he worked from 2005-11.

A former defensive back at the University of California, where he was a teammate of Carolina coach Ron Rivera, Rodgers also coached at Diablo Valley Community College (1989-94), San Jose State (1995-96), Portland State (1997-2000) and New Mexico State (2001-04).

DeHaven joined the Panthers in 2013 as a special teams assistant. He had two stints -- 1987-99 and 2010-12 -- as the special teams coach with the Buffalo Bills.

His 2012 unit set franchise records with an NFL-best 17.1 yards per punt return and 27 yards per kickoff return. He was fired after the 1999 season when the Bills lost to the Tennessee Titans in a playoff game dubbed the "Music City Miracle."

The Titans executed a cross-field lateral on a kickoff return for the game-winning touchdown.

DeHaven also was a special teams coach with the Seattle Seahawks from 2007-09, Dallas Cowboys from 2003-06 and San Francisco 49ers from 2000-02.

Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman made it clear after the season that signing players specific to special teams needs would be a priority during the offseason. The most glaring need is at kickoff and punt returner.

Carolina was unable to replace Ted Ginn Jr., who went to Arizona last year in free agency after ranking among the league return leaders in 2013.