Dolphins fill 2 vacancies on coaching staff

The Miami Dolphins filled two vacancies on Adam Gase’s coaching staff, hiring Frank Bush as their new linebackers coach and promoting Chris Kuper from quality control coach to offensive line assistant.

Bush, who spent the past three seasons coaching linebackers for the Rams, takes the spot of Matt Burke, who was promoted to defensive coordinator last week after Vance Joseph became the Denver Broncos’ head coach.

Bush will also serve as the Dolphins’ assistant head coach. Special teams coach Darren Rizzi served in that capacity during Gase’s first season in Miami and has been promoted to associate head coach, which puts him on a higher tier than Bush.

Rizzi has been with the Dolphins since 2009.

As offensive line assistant, Kuper replaces Jeremiah Washburn, who joined the Bears as their lead offensive line coach.

Kuper, who started 79 games during his NFL career as an offensive guard, is heading into his second season on the Dolphins’ coaching staff. He’ll be working under Chris Foerster, a 24-year veteran who is beginning his second season as Miami’s lead offensive line coach.

While he’s never worked with Gase, Bush has 24 years of NFL coaching experience, which includes two seasons as defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans in 2009-10 and three seasons as the Denver Broncos’ special teams coach from 2001-03.

In 2009, the Texans established new franchise lows bests for fewest points allowed per game (20.8) and yards allowed per game (324.9) with Bush serving as the unit’s defensive coordinator.

Bush was a three-year starter at linebacker for North Carolina State and was selected in the fifthround of the 1985 draft by the Houston Oilers. His playing career ended after two seasons, and he immediately went to work for the Oilers as a college scout before working his way up the ranks as an assistant coach.

Bush has helped linebackers like Karlos Dansby, DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing, Colin McCarthy, Akeem Ayers and Alec Ogletree thrive as starters.