Wife: Lions assistant Kris Kocurek heading to Dolphins

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions have lost their longest tenured assistant coach.

Kris Kocurek, who had worked with the team’s defensive line since 2009, is taking the same job with the Miami Dolphins, according to wife Amy Kocurek’s Facebook page.

It was reported Tuesday night that Kocurek had been granted permission to interview with the Dolphins. The move reconnects him with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who was with the Lions from 2010-14. It also reunites Kocurek with Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke, who coached the Lions linebackers from 2009-13.

Kocurek was one of a handful of assistants retained from Jim Schwartz’s staff by Jim Caldwell. Only offensive assistant Evan Rothstein remains from that group.

Kocurek is the third Lions assistant to take another job this offseason. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin made a lateral move, taking on the same role in Cincinnati. He was joined by Matt Raich, who worked as a quality control and defensive line assistant in Detroit the past four years.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

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