BY IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—Greg Schiano believes in truth and consequences.

The new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers takes over a very young club that has been beset by a series of troubling off-field incidents in recent years. At his opening news conference in Tampa, Schiano stressed accountability and trust between both players and coaches.

In a subsequent meeting with print media, Schiano was asked how tolerant he would be in dealing with off-field transgressions.

“We’ll have one unified message as an organization,’’ he said. “Accountability doesn’t work unless it’s consistent. You give a very clear vision and a clear expectation. Most anger and frustration comes out of unmet expectations. If you can give clear vision and expectations, it’s up to the players and coaches. It doesn’t work unless there’s consequences ... that’s human nature.’‘

Schiano said he expects the franchise’s code of conduct to be honored.

“As a kid, I was always best when I knew where the boundaries were,’’ said Schiano. “When you don’t know where the boundaries are, you just start drifting and all of a sudden, you’re in a bad place and you don’t know how you got there. When they hit the boundaries, there’s a consequence. Sometimes that consequence can drive someone away. That’s the unfortunate part of it.’‘