Ravens choose John Harbaugh as coach

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Longtime Philadelphia Eagles assistant John Harbaugh was hired Friday as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

The 45-year-old Harbaugh replaces Brian Billick, who was fired in December after nine seasons with the team.

"After a calculated interview process, the Ravens are proud to announce that John Harbaugh was named the third coach in franchise history," the team's Web site says.

Ted Marchibroda, who had also been a head coach of the old Baltimore Colts, was the original coach of the Ravens, from 1996 to 1998.

Harbaugh was secondary coach for the Eagles this season after nine years as special teams coordinator. Baltimore is his first head-coaching job.

Harbaugh's younger brother Jim, a former NFL quarterback, is head football coach at Stanford.

The Ravens had a 5-11 record in the 2007 season.