ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Mike Mularkey’s innovative offensive approach helped sell him to Bills’ president and general manager Tom Donahoe.

Donahoe tapped Mularkey to be the team’s 13th coach in history on Wednesday and will officially introduce him at a news conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Terms of the deal have not been released. Both Mularkey and Donahoe were unavailable for comment until the news conference.

At 42, Mularkey will be one of the youngest coaches in the league after being an assistant for 10 years, with the last three as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator.

It will be the second go-around for Donahoe and Mularkey, who spent some time together in Pittsburgh. Donahoe worked in the Steelers’ front office when Mularkey was hired as tight ends coach in 1996.

Over the last three years, Mularkey has built a strong reputation of having a creative offensive mind, one of the things the Bills were searching for when they began the interview process after their disappointing 6-10 year.

Mularkey was one of seven candidates, including former Giants coach Jim Fassel and Bears coach Dick Jauron, to interview for the head coaching job that became vacant after the Bills decided not to rehire Gregg Williams after his three-year stint. Williams compiled a 17-31 record, including going 3-13 and 8-8 in his first two years.

Mularkey, who has no head coaching experience, met with Donahoe last week before flying to Detroit to meet owner Ralph Wilson on Tuesday.

“With all the experience that Mr. Donahoe and Mr. Wilson have, they certainly know what they are doing better than anybody in the NFL,” Bills’ receiver Eric Moulds said. “I feel real good about the decision.”

Moulds and the rest of the Bills offense struggled this season after they were among the best units in 2002. The Bills slipped to 30th in total offense this year, managing 4,348 yards, seven better than the franchise-low. Buffalo only mustered 243 points, second-fewest in a 16-game season.

Moulds, hampered by a sore groin for most of the season, caught 64 passes after setting a franchise-record with 100 receptions in 2002.

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe endured one of his worst seasons in his 11-year career, throwing for 11 touchdowns, the fewest since 2001 when he played in only two games for New England.

Ironically, Bledsoe’s final appearance with the Patriots before being traded to Buffalo was against the Steelers in the 2001 AFC Championship Game, Mularkey’s first year as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator.

Bledsoe replaced the injured Tom Brady in the second quarter, and engineered three scoring drives in the Patriots 24-17 win.

In 2001, Mularkey helped quarterback Kordell Stewart have one of his best season as a pro. Stewart completed more than 60 percent of his passes and threw 14 touchdowns, and the Steelers became the top-ranked rushing team.

The following season, Mularkey resurrected quarterback Tommy Maddox’s career. Maddox, who had earned MVP honors in the now-defunct XFL in 2001, completed a career-high 20 touchdowns in leading the Steelers into the playoffs, where they lost to Tennessee in the AFC Divisional Game.

The Bills are hoping the third time is another charm for Mularkey when it comes to Bledsoe, who will be the team’s quarterback in 2004.

Mularkey also has indirect ties with current Buffalo offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, who was highly criticized for his play calling this season.

Gilbride was hired by Donahoe and Williams in 2002 after being fired as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator after the 2000 season. Mularkey replaced Gilbride in Pittsburgh and elevated the Steelers offense to a top five ranking in each of the next two years.

Mularkey may bring a couple of current Pittsburgh assistants with him, including quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and tight ends coach Ken Whisenhunt.

AP-ES-01-14-04 2049EST