ALLEN PARK, Mich. — New Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz made his first major staff hire on Wednesday, bringing in veteran assistant Gunther Cunningham as defensive coordinator.

Cunningham also will carry the title of assistant head coach.

The two previously worked together as assistants on Jeff Fisher's staff in Tennessee. Schwartz was defensive coordinator under Fisher this past season on a Titans team that posted an NFL-best 13-3 record and a defense that ranked second in points allowed.

Cunningham, a 40-year coaching veteran on the college and pro levels, was Kansas City's head coach from 1999-2000 and the Chiefs' defensive coordinator in 1995-98 and from 2004 through this past season.

His work in Detroit will be cut out for him. The Lions didn't win a game last season and had one of the league's worst defensive units.

Terms of his contract were not disclosed.

Cunningham also has served as an assistant with the Raiders, Chargers and Colts in the NFL and California, Stanford, Arkansas and Oregon in the college ranks.