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Veteran running backs coach Clarence Shelmon has been promoted by the San Diego Chargers to the post of offensive coordinator.

Shelmon, 54, deliberated over the offer for a few days before verbally agreeing to a contract on Thursday evening. He replaces Cam Cameron, who last week became the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

The decision by coach Marty Schottenheimer to elevate Shelmon to the key post, rather than seek candidates from outside the organization, was hardly surprising. San Diego possesses one of the NFL's most explosive offenses and maintaining continuity within the system was a priority when Cameron departed to the Dolphins.

"I believe in the system," Schottenheimer told the San Diego Union-Tribune earlier this week. "You want your players to have a sense of confidence and trust."

Long regarded as one of the NFL's top running backs coaches, Shelmon will be a coordinator for the first time in his career. He is the first black coordinator in franchise history.

In the past three seasons under Cameron, the Chargers scored over 400 points, and had a club-record 492 points in 2006.

Shelmon was a college running back at the University of Houston (1971-75), and then moved into the coaching ranks in 1978. His NFL resume includes working at the Los Angeles Rams (1991), Seattle (1992-97), Dallas (1998-2001) and San Diego (2002-present).

In his time with the Chargers, he has been instrumental in the development of star tailback LaDainian Tomlinson, the NFL's most valuable player for 2006.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.