As the Carolina Panthers welcomed a new addition to their coaching staff Monday, a key member of Ron Rivera's staff prepared to meet with one of the Panthers' NFC South rivals.

The Panthers announced the hiring of San Diego Chargers secondary coach Steve Wilks, a West Charlotte graduate who will have the same position with the Panthers. Wilks, who played on Appalachian State's I-AA playoff teams in 1989 and 1991, will replace Ron Meeks, who was let go after three seasons with Carolina.

Wilks, who worked with Rivera in Chicago and San Diego, also will have the title of passing defense coordinator, the Panthers said.

Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is scheduled to meet with Tampa Bay today about the Buccaneers' head-coaching vacancy, according to a source close to him.

Chudzinski, 43, the architect of an offense that improved 25 spots in the NFL rankings in his first season with the Panthers, interviewed with Jacksonville and St. Louis the past two weeks.

NFL teams cannot block assistants from interviewing for head-coaching jobs. During a news conference after the season, Rivera said he would be "uneasy" if Chudzinski wound up coaching in the division.

"But at the same time if he goes there, he knows that we know him and we know that he knows us," Rivera said this month.

Chudzinski was unavailable for comment Monday.

He will become the sixth known candidate to meet with the Bucs, who fired Raheem Morris after losing their last 10 games to finish 4-12. It appeared Tampa Bay was targeting an experienced coach to replace Morris, who was 32 when he was hired in 2009.

The Bucs have talked to three former NFL head coaches - Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Sherman and Brad Childress - as well Tennessee defensive coordinator Jerry Gray and Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who met with Tampa Bay officials Monday, according to reports.

Chudzinski has three years as an NFL coordinator and drew praise for his work with rookie quarterback Cam Newton. The Bucs want to get quarterback Josh Freeman on track after a disappointing 2011.