The Redskins have named offensive assistant Bill Lazor as the team's new quarterbacks coach, the team announced on Thursday evening.

"We are extremely excited for Bill Lazor to take this step with the offensive staff," head coach Joe Gibbs said on Thursday. "He has worked tremendously hard for us in his two years here and will be a great fit as quarterbacks coach. He has turned down several coaching opportunities elsewhere to stay with us the past two offseasons."

Lazor, 33, was part of a coaching staff that helped the Redskins' offense improve from 30th overall in 2004 to 11th overall in 2005. He replaces Bill Musgrave, who left the organization earlier this week to become quarterbacks coach with the Atlanta Falcons.

Said Lazor: "It's been great to be involved with the progress that we've made here offensively. Personally, I'm very excited to be able to work with the quarterbacks with Coach Gibbs, Coach [Al] Saunders and the whole staff--and to be part of the future, which is only going to get better."

Lazor enters his fourth NFL season and third with the Redskins. He joined the Redskins in January 2004 after having spent the 2003 season with the Atlanta Falcons as their offensive quality control coach.

Before jumping to the NFL ranks, Lazor was offensive coordinator-quarterbacks coach for the University of Buffalo from 2001-02.

Previously, Lazor served in numerous coaching capacities at his alma mater, Cornell University. Following his graduation, he joined the Cornell coaching staff full-time, working with the team's offense. He also served as coaching coordinator for the program from 1998-2000.

During his college playing days, Lazor enjoyed a record-breaking career as a quarterback for Cornell from 1991-93, setting 26 school passing and total offensive records.

Lazor worked closely with Musgrave last season. In the hours before a game, Lazor typically helps out in terms of getting Redskins quarterbacks and wide receivers warmed up.