With Jon Gruden out of the mix and Randy Shannon in the rearview, the Miami Hurricanes continue their search for a new head coach.
Several names have been thrown around, though there’s a big difference between a legit candidate and just another name. Some are quick say a certain coach turned a program down, but was he ever truly in the running and was he ever offered? Always a misconception and something the media (or rival coaches) can spin.
Another misconception, prestige of one program versus another, without taking intangibles into consideration. Does a west coast guy want to come to Miami? Does a coach’s wife want to relocate to South Florida? Are there kids involved? If so, what are the ages as it’s harder to uproot high school aged kids than it is preschool.
So much more going on than that simple mindset that “we are The U” and any coach in any conference at just about any school should want to leave their current position for what Miami fans deem the pinnacle of college football.
ESPN analyst Mark May was way off when stating that the University of Miami head coaching position is less than desirable and that fans need to kilter expectations regarding their perception of the program. It takes a special breed to want to take on the challenge of succeeding at ‘The U’, but make no mistake – do so and you’ll be revered in Coral Gables, which coaching opportunities on every level will be available when you’re ready to move on.
Butch Davis may have had a string of nine-win seasons, with a 5-6 pitfall in the midst of probation, but one 11-1 run in year six and the Cleveland Browns came calling with big time money – a few years after fans flew a “From champs to chumps, thanks Butch” banner over the Orange Bowl.
Win and you’re atop the college football world, with the NFL knocking at your door; but it all starts with that first initial step.
Below are some names. Some are legit candidates, others are pipe dreams and a few are just some standards names that come up during times like these. Some of these guys might be long timers, while others would see Miami as a stepping stone to the NFL, which is par for the course. Look at Miami’s “Decade of Dominance” where no coach stayed longer than six years.
No idea who athletic director Kirby Hocutt is or isn’t targeting and clueless as to how these coaches would respond if Miami wanted them on board. That said, time to explore and here are some thoughts on these potential candidates:
Jim Harbaugh : Head Coach, Stanford Cardinal : Yes the NFL will most likely come calling next year with Dallas, San Francisco, Carolina, Minnesota and some others looking for replacements. Same with his alma mater if Michigan decides to fire Rich Rodriguez after the bowl game. That said, if I’m Hocutt I would’ve booked a flight direct from Tampa to the Bay Area to track down Harbaugh in Palo Alto.
If Gruden was 1A for namesake, reputation, hype and instant credibility, Harbaugh is 1B for much of the same, as well as proven success at the collegiate level.
What Harbaugh has done at Stanford the past four seasons has been nothing short of amazing. A Pac-10 program with high academic standards, he’s done the exact opposite as Shannon by getting the most out of lesser players, while improving his win total annually and going next-level year four, instead of backsliding and imploding.
Harbaugh cut his teeth at the University of San Diego between 2004 and 2006, going 22-2 his final two seasons before Stanford came calling. Year one with the Cardinal, a 4-8 run though an upset of No. 2 Southern Cal as a 41-point underdog let people know that Harbaugh was for real.
A 5-7 run year two and 8-5 campaign year three have been followed up by an 11-1 season year four, with the lone loss coming on the road, to current No. 2 Oregon. (It marks the first 11-win season in Stanford’s history.)
Harbaugh is forty-six years old and interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching position in January 2009 and is said to have NFL aspirations, but with a NFL lockout potentially looming and Rodriguez still at Michigan for the rest of 2010 – and possibly longer – Hocutt should go at Harbaugh with the same vengeance Miami went at Gruden.
Harbaugh would eventually wind up in the NFL, but if the Canes could get a solid 3-4 years out of a proven winner, it’d keep the program on track for the next guy as Miami would become more than ‘relevant’ in the process.
UPSIDE: Miami could literally double Harbaugh’s current salary if it wanted to … much more talent in South Florida … even with high academic standards for athletes at UM, light years easier to get kids into Miami than Stanford … maximizes talent and gets more out of lesser players.
DOWNSIDE: Harbaugh’s ties to his alma mater, who could be coach-less within a few weeks … aspirations of coaching in the NFL … wife and daughter could be happy in Northern California (sons are college age and out of the house).
Chris Petersen : Head Coach, Boise State Broncos : A virtual unknown until the 2006 post-season when Boise State upset powerhouse Oklahoma in overtime of the Fiesta Bowl and Petersen has virtually done no wrong since, going 59-5 over five seasons.
Petersen led Boise State to a 14-0 season in 2009, culminating with another Fiesta Bowl win; this time over Texas Christian, who beat BSU a year earlier in the Poinsettia Bowl. The Broncos wrapped up the season No. 4 in the final BCS poll.
Boise State is currently 10-1, having lost to Nevada in overtime last week. The Broncos started the season with a comeback victory over Virginia Tech.
Petersen has been a hot candidate for a few seasons now, politely listening to offers that have come his way, but declining every time. He is said to be motivated by love of family – not money, not winning and not prestige.
“I’ve never been a big one for moving and uprooting your family,” Petersen said in a 2009 interview, when talking about his now 12-year old son Sam, who battled brain cancer as a toddler.
Petersen seems to have a perfect utopia and one can’t imagine a better uprooting than leaving Boise for Miami. He’s probably more of a long-shot than Gruden. Seriously.
A California native and UC Davis former quarterback, alum and wide receivers coach, Petersen has spent one year of his coaching career on the east coast (Pittsburgh quarterbacks coach, 1992) and from there spent time at Portland State (quarterbacks) and Oregon (six years coaching wide receivers) before heading to Boise in 2001 as offensive coordinator under Dan Hawkins, who Petersen replaced in 2006 when Hawkins left for Colorado.
UPSIDE: Petersen can coach, scheme, motivate and win … would definitely be a ‘home run’ hire … made a national name for himself past five seasons and kids nationwide know BSU’s success.
DOWNSIDE: Seems very comfortable in Boise … hasn’t yet proven he’s not a big fish in a little pond … succeeded Hawkins, who failed miserably at Colorado and Hawkins took over for Dirk Koetter, who did very little in his time at Arizona State. Not much of a track record for BSU head coaches taking the reigns at big universities … doesn’t seem to want to leave … unsure if this west coast guy is “Miami” material as it’s completely different culture than he’s ever seen.
Gary Patterson : Head Coach, TCU Horned Frogs : Patterson’s run at TCU is similar to that of Boise State’s last few coaches. The fifty-year old has been the Horned Frogs’ head coach since 2000, after taking over for Dennis Franchione, who left for a forgettable two-year stint at the University of Alabama, leaving for Texas A&M with sanctions looming.
Prior to assuming head coaching duties for the ’00 bowl game, Patterson was TCU’s defensive coordinator for three year and was promoted from within after Franchione’s departure.
Patterson has had a few rough seasons at TCU – 6-6 (2001), 5-6 (2004) and 8-5 (2007) – but has been successful every other season at the helm. 11-2 in 2008 ended with a Poinsettia Bowl win over Boise State, followed by a loss to the Broncos a year later in the Fiesta, making for a 12-1 season and No. 6 finish in the BCS standings.
While Boise State fell out of BCS contention with their recent loss to Nevada, it’s been full steam head for TCU in 2010, currently 12-0 and BCS bound, where they’ll finally face an automatic-qualifying bigger conference school in the post-season, forced to prove their mettle.
TCU played two ranked teams this season – No. 24 Oregon State and No. 5 Utah – which was drummed by a putrid Notre Dame squad the following week, taking some luster off the Horned Frogs’ win. TCU suffered a let down the following week, as well, eking out a five-point win over San Diego State.
UPSIDE: Like Petersen, Patterson is a winner and gets the job done – proven by a 35-3 run the past three seasons and back-to-back BCS games … he would also be considered a ‘home run’ hire and is a name that would excite players, fans and recruits … good Xs and Os guy and solid defensive mind.
DOWNSIDE: TCU just signed a deal with the Big East, putting the Horned Frogs in an automatic-qualifier conference, giving Patterson less reason to job hop … paid well by TCU and signed through 2016 … married with three sons and having spent the past thirteen years in the Dallas area, does the Kansas native really want to uproot his family and take over a pressure cooker UM job when he’s Big East bound and can dominate? Probably not … Kansas native and long-time Texas resident, would Patterson’s style fit in South Florida?
Dan Mullen : Head Coach, Mississippi State Bulldogs : Mullen comes from the Urban Meyer coaching tree, having followed Meyer since the two left at Notre Dame in the late 90s, where Meyer coached wideouts and Mullen was a 28-year old grad assistant.
From there, a quarterbacks coach under Meyer at Bowling Green, a quarterbacks coach under Meyer at Utah and eventually a four-year run (and two national championships) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Meyer at Florida. Mullen was Tim Tebow’s quarterback coach and is credited for grooming the eventual Heisman winner.
Mullen accepted the head coaching position at Mississippi State in 2009 and has gone 13-11 over two seasons, improving to 8-4 year two, highlighted by a 10-7 win over his old boss at ‘The Swamp’ and beating rival Ole Miss for a second straight season in the Egg Bowl.
Mullen has publicly stated that he is happy in Starkville, enjoys SEC football and has no NFL aspirations at this point.
UPSIDE: Mullen has Sunshine State ties and could recruit the state well … appears to be a young, energetic up and comer who would likely stay put for a while … has proven he can develop quarterbacks.
DOWNSIDE: Unproven … spent past decade in Meyer’s shadow … instant recruiting ammo for UF, who could sell recruits on ‘playing for the teacher instead of the pupil’ … runs a spread offense, instead of the pro-style Miami runs … doesn’t seem like a “Miami guy” … doesn’t appear up for the challenge of being in the spotlight, having been under Meyer and appearing to want to stick with his lower-level SEC gig. (Appears unsure if he even wants to interview with UM, let alone fight for the gig.)
Mike Leach : Former Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders : Where does one even begin with Leach?
Brilliant offensive mind, though a bit of a savant. Smart off the field as well, having earned his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and has a Masters of Sports Science/Coaching from the United States Sports Academy. Leach also earned his undergrad at BYU and began molding his football mind by watching head coach LaVell Edwards and offensive coordinator Norm Chow, though Leach is only one of a handful of coaches who’s never played at the collegiate level.
Leach began making a name for himself as offensive coordinator at Kentucky from 1997-1998 and was lurked to Norman when Bob Stoops took over at Oklahoma in 1999. Leach took over as head coach for Texas Tech the following season and lasted ten years before his firing after the 2009 season.
Over a decade, Leach’s teams hovered between four to six losses per season. Dominant Big XII programs like Oklahoma and Texas reigned supreme, though Texas Tech occasionally got the better of their bigger rivals. An 11-2 run in 2008 proved Leach’s best work to date, reaching No. 2 in the polls, upsetting rival Texas and finishing the year T1st in the Big XII South. The Red Raiders reached the Cotton Bowl where they were beaten by Ole Miss, 47-34.
Leach was fired from Texas Tech after an 8-4 season in 2009, partly for a scandal involving a former player (Adam James, who claims he was locked in an electrical closet, while Leach maintains he was sent to an equipment room to rest due to a concussion.)
Making matters stickier, Leach filed a wrongful termination suit against Texas Tech and days back sued both ESPN and a public relations firm for slander – claiming his image has been tarnished, which in many ways it has as UM has state that it won’t hire a head coach with ‘baggage’. Leach has not been granted an interview with Miami, despite making public claims that he wants the job.
Leach has spent the past several month living in Key West and has fallen in love with the Sunshine State. Since Shannon’s firing he’s been lobbying for an interview and believes that ACC Championships and national titles would be in the future if he took over at UM.
UPSIDE: High-flying offense … salivating at the opportunity … would come at right price … ‘damaged goods’ that knows he only has one chance to get it right, so motivation is there … would definitely make the most of a second chance and would consider UM a dream job … beyond enthusiastic and ready to get back to coaching.
DOWNSIDE: Rough around the edges personality-wise for a program that can’t afford risky hire … pass-happy without much of a run game … doesn’t put much emphasis on defense; would rather outscore you … runs a spread offense, instead of pro-style … in time could prove to be a ‘home run’ hire if he gets the job done, but odds of not getting it done could be just as great … probably a fifth or sixth choice and third or fourth-tier guy if others don’t pan out … involved in lawsuits which would have to be dropped immediately … hire would initially bring UM some bad press because of baggage … not sure how we’ll his personality and recruiting style would fly in South Florida, especially against Florida and Florida State coaches with a better lay of the land.
Tommy Tuberville : Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders : Tuberville’s name oft comes up when the Miami job opens as he was a Miami assistant between 1986 and 1993, working both under Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson. Tuberville left UM with three national championship rings and saw five national championship games with the Canes.
From ‘The U’, Tubbs earned his first head coaching opp at Ole Miss, where he never finished better than 8-4 and T3rd in the SEC West. After a 6-5 campaign in 1998 he was hired by Auburn, where he spent the next decade.
Tuberville led the Tigers to an undefeated season in 13-0, but Auburn couldn’t crack the top two in the BCS rankings, leaving Oklahoma and eventual champ Southern Cal to battle it out in the Orange Bowl for all the marbles. Auburn tore up Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, finishing the season No. 2 in the final BCS poll.
From there – 9-3, 11-2, 9-4 and 5-7 in 2008, after which Tuberville resigned. Auburn started the season No. 10 and after a 3-0 start, went on to lose five of six and ended the season dropping it’s final two games – Georgia and Alabama, who spanked Auburn, 36-0.
Tuberville sat out the 2009 season, doing analyst work and regrouping. In 2010 he took over for the fired Mike Leach at Texas Tech, going 7-5 and finishing fifth in the Big XII South.
UPSIDE: Is a veteran coach and could be considered somewhat of a ‘big’ name … had some success in the difficult SEC … has Miami ties and understand the South Florida culture.
DOWNSIDE: At 56 years old, on the downside of his career – makes you question the motivation … has an easier gig in Lubbock with lower expectations … knows how hard UM fans are to please and spoke about the difficulties of the job on ESPN’s Signing Day special in 2010 … have to wonder how hungry he’d be for the opportunity and grind.
Marc Trestman : Head Coach, Montreal Alouettes : Another name that always comes up with there’s a Miami vacancy. Trestman was a volunteer coach at UM between 1981-1982 and was named quarterback coach from 1983-1984, where the Canes won a championship, had a quarterback controversy (the cerebral Bernie Kosar v. the athletic Vinny Testaverde) and saw a coaching change, from Howard Schnellenberger to Jimmy Johnson.
From there Trestman spent two decades in the NFL as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. A journeyman who saw action in Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, San Francisco, Detroit, Arizona, Oakland and Miami before heading back to the NCAA with a two-year run at NC State, still as offensive coordinator.
Trestman spent the past three seasons north of the border, as head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, where he’s reached three Grey Cups – losing his first and winning two straight.
Earlier this fall, Tony Dungy was rumored to be in the running for the vacant head coaching job at the University of Minnesota – is alma mater – and after declaring he wasn’t interested, suggested that the Gophers look at Trestman for the opening.
UPSIDE: Experienced … solid offensive mind … successful working with quarterback … spent some time at Miami in the past, so knows the culture and does have a UM National Championship ring … tremendous success in NFL with both San Francisco and Oakland, reaching Super Bowl in 2002 but losing to Jon Gruden’s Buccaneers.
DOWNSIDE: No head coaching experience until he was 50+ … only head coaching experience in Canadian league … makes you wonder why passed up for NCAA jobs in past.
Randy Edsall : Head Coach, Connecticut Huskies : UConn’s head honcho since 1999. Best seasons to date are 9-3 (2003) when an Independent and 9-4 (2007) when T1st in Big East. West Virginia earned BCS bid after spanking Connecticut, 66-21 in season finale. Two weeks prior, lost 27-3 at Cincinnati, the year before the Bearcats joined the Big East.
UConn is prepping for its season finale at South Florida tomorrow and is 7-4 on the season, having lost at Michigan, Temple, Rutgers and Louisville. An overtime win at West Virginia means a win against the Bulls will have UConn claiming its first outright Big East title and headed to a BCS game, albeit with an 8-4 record.
Edsall is 52 years old and spent the first decade of his coaching career at his alma mater, Syracuse. From there, Boston College’s defensive backs coach (1991-1993), Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive backs coach (1994-1997) and Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator (1998) before heading to Connecticut in 1999.
UPSIDE: Head coaching experience … small salary ($1.3M).
DOWNSIDE: A good, not great run at UConn in a weak conference … not even close to the ‘home run’ hire Miami needs … would have be ranked a fourth or fifth-tier choice for UM … doesn’t really look/feel like Miami material; definitely a northeastern guy.
Jim Leavitt : Former Head Coach, South Florida Bulls : Did a tremendous job putting South Florida on the map between 1997 and 2009. Did his career a tremendous disservice when accused of smacking up a player during halftime of the Louisville game in 2009.
Had a 9-2 run in 2002 and rose to No. 2 in the land halfway through 2007 season, reaching 6-0 and beating Auburn, North Carolina and West Virginia, back-to-back to back. Hit a three-game losing skid after the rankings climb and eventually spanked by Oregon in the Sun Bowl, ending the season 9-4. Followed up with back-to-back 8-5 seasons and compiled an all-time 94-57 record over 13 seasons.
Signature win came in September 2009, when finally knocking off one of the state’s ‘Big Three’ with a 17-7 victory at Florida State. The Noles finished the regular season 6-6, with the legendary Bobby Bowden fired at year’s end.
Leavitt isn’t thought to be in the running for Miami’s head coaching vacancy, though he has been mentioned as a possible defensive coordinator at this point.
UPSIDE: Fiery personality … did a lot with in-state leftovers and scraps for over a decade … runs a good defense … good recruiter … long-time Sunshine State ties.
DOWNSIDE: Never really made a mark by winning the lowly Big East in the post-Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College era … big fish in a little pond at USF, with low expectations … hitting a player brings too much baggage for an in-flux program like UM to take on right now.
Al Golden : Head Coach, Temple Owls : A wunderkind that became a hot commodity after spending the past five seasons turning around a putrid Temple program. Went 1-11 year one and grew that to 4-8, 5-7, 9-4 and 8-4 in 2010. Second youngest coach in Division I-A behind Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald.
Golden’s Owls beat UConn this past September and hung tough with Penn State a week later, leading 13-6 at the half before falling, 22-13.
Prior to taking over at Temple, Golden was Virginia’s defensive coordinator (2001-2005), Penn State’s linebackers coach (2000), Boston College’s linebackers coach (1997-1999) and a Virginia graduate assistant (1994-1996).
UPSIDE: Young up and comer … has done a good job with little talent, at a non-football program … learned from solid mentors (Paterno, Welsh, O’Brien, Parcells) … winner mentality … not afraid of a challenge … was in running for UCLA and Cincinnati openings but pulled out to finish job at Temple and to wait on bigger opportunity (re: not a job hopper or ladder climber.)
DOWNSIDE: Inexperienced … young … a good job, not a great job at Temple, albeit it was Temple … too green and possibly too risky a hire for a Miami program that needs to make a splash … might need to cut his teeth elsewhere before taking over UM.
Gus Malzahn : Offensive Coordinator, Auburn Tigers : Current offensive coordinator for team headed to BCS title game if they win SEC title game. Quarterbacks coach who did tremendous job with Cam Newton year one.
Prior to run with Auburn, Malzahn was an Arkansas high school coach that wound up as offensive coordinator and wideouts coach for the Razorbacks as part of a ‘package’ when prized recruits Mitch Mustain, Ben Cleveland, Andrew Norman and Damian Williams headed to Fayetteville. Malzahn’s Springfield High offense was lethal and the promotion obviously well-earned.
After one year at Arkansas (2006), Malzahn took his talents to Tulsa as co-offensive coordinator, assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach (2007-2008) before assuming duties as Auburn’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2009-present).
UPSIDE: Malzahn seems like a great head coach in the making … high-powered balanced offense … has done a lot in a little time at Auburn.
DOWNSIDE: No experience and definitely a risk … makes more sense for a big money state school to roll the dice … Miami couldn’t afford a Malzahn flop … relatively inexperienced at the collegiate level, having five total years as an assistant under his belt.
Rob Chudzinski : Tight Ends / Assistant Coach, San Diego Chargers : Another former Cane working his way up the coaching ranks for years. Chud is currently the assistant head coach with the San Diego Chargers and prior to that, Miami’s tight ends coach (1996-2000) and offensive coordinator (2001-2003), Cleveland’s tight ends coach (2004), San Diego’s tight ends coach (2005-2006) and Cleveland’s offensive coordinator (2007-2008).
Chud has no head coaching experience, but has logged some quality time in the NFL. Would’ve been a good hire in 2007 instead of Shannon, but another inexperienced guy that probably won’t get a shot due to importance of this hire and on-the-field job Randy did.
UPSIDE: Former Miami player … knows the culture … worked under Butch Davis both at UM and in Cleveland … endured probation era at UM … saw other side as OC for the ’01 title and incredible 34-0 run and beyond … would probably hire Ken Dorsey as quarterbacks coach … understands the importance of tight end in Miami’s offense … from Ohio, home of many coaching greats … been part of a successful offense with Chargers on and off for past few years … if Miami has to go with a fourth-tier guy, this could be the only guy worth ‘keeping it in the family’ for.
DOWNSIDE: No head coaching experience … not a ‘home run’ hire … sort of an unknown, behind the scene-type assistant … unsure how recruits would react to a Chud hiring.
Mario Cristobal : Head Coach, FIU Golden Panthers : The worst thing to happen to Cristobal was Shannon failing at Miami as the premise of another inexperienced former Cane running the show is depressing.
To Cristobal’s credit, he’s been at Florida International as long as Shannon was at Miami and the program has improved on his watch, going 1-11 year one and from there, 5-7, 3-9 and 6-5.
Cristobal is a tireless recruiting, a polished personality and as far as the Miami culture, he’s a forty-year old local product and has two national championship rings from his playing days at UM (1989 & 1991).
UPSIDE: Former Cane player and coach … Miami native … well-polished … doing a good job with very little in current situation … could be a great one in time … very professional.
DOWNSIDE: If a Gruden was seen as a ‘home run’, Cristobal is a bunt-for-single due to inexperience and an empty resume … potentially the right guy at the wrong time … cause hurt by Shannon’s lack of experience / lack of success … needs more experience elsewhere before earning shot at UM gig … a fifth or sixth-tier hire that could have long-term upside, but would be a huge step back in the short-term.
the U should have fired whipple, kept shannon, and hired Leach for O or something.
the rest of the candidates are not so hot.
Why isn't Art Kehoe one of the top candidates for this job! He will take this team and win immediately. He knows the winning culture. He was Head coach for a short time and Assistant Head Coach at Miami. He also happens to own some pretty good jewelry. Five National Championship Rings. Name one other coach in College Football today that can say that. He will be a head coach somewhere. He definitely has something to prove. Let him prove it where he belongs. IN MIAMI!
You need to put Bud Foster VT i think he can be a good head coach and has the know how to lead a team to the next level.
Wow… This is quite depressing. Petersen will never leave Boise, and now Patterson has no reason to leave TCU. Harbaugh will get better offers from the NFL and his alma mater.
What we are left with, then, is eight inexperienced coordinators or head coaching failures, an aspiring pirate, and Tommy Tuberville.
So much for a big hire. Hopefully Hocutt's list is a little better than this one; maybe he's got a few tricks up his sleeves. Maybe re-hire Randy? He's got four years of head coaching experience now.
I say why not get harbaugh. He is proven. Cares about academics. He will eventually leave us. But cristobal should be ready then. Harbaugj can coach was a qb and is a motivator. Come on Kirby. And don't rule out Leach or even butch rtuening. This should take 10-14 days. Praying for a good hire. Also with a good national recruiting coordinator like Eddie gran for fsu or ed ordergon (typo) for USC
I have to say your blog post are very well written.Entertaining as well as informative .
However,I think you a little harsh on Tommy Tuberville.He's only 56.That's like 30 in Joe Pa years.Personally,I think TT can rebuild the program , much like Butch did.IMHO,TT ranks head& shoulders over everyone on this list.Look at how many star players he put in the NFL.Experience means a lot w/this hire.TT=WIN!
I don't see Miami hiring Leach or Leavitt for the character issue reasons. Beyond that, who knows. I think Harbaugh is as much a reach as Gruden. At the end of the day any "sure thing" hire probably has little incentive to take on the job. All of us love the Canes and I believe they will get the right guy. It probably won't be a big name hire. You know what, I bet you could get Gruden. Like most things in this world it likely came down to money. Where is the motivation for him to take the job for 3M. I should first state I don't think any college coach deserves that kind of money, but enough about idealism. What do you think happens if you offer Gruden or any other coach insane money. What happens is you get your coach. I'm not saying this is right, but it's reality. just making a point.
Why isn't Art Kehoe one of the top candidates for this job!
Because Art Kehoe has never even been an offensive coordinator let alone a head coach.
Fiery guy and I wish he was still coaching Miami's offensive line, but it's beyond a reach to say that Kehoe deserves a shot as head coach at UM at this point of his career.
You need to put Bud Foster VT i think he can be a good head coach and has the know how to lead a team to the next level.
Foster has been an assistant under Beamer since 1987. If that ain't "head coach in waiting", what is?
Beamer is 64 and will retire sooner than later. If Foster has put in 23 year at Virginia Tech, safe bet he's in it for the long haul … and he also has no head coaching experience, so not really Miami's guy.
I say why not get harbaugh. He is proven. Cares about academics. He will eventually leave us. But cristobal should be ready then. Harbaugh can coach was a qb and is a motivator. Come on Kirby. And don't rule out Leach or even butch rtuening. This should take 10-14 days. Praying for a good hire. Also with a good national recruiting coordinator like Eddie gran for fsu or ed ordergon (typo) for USC
… safe bet UM would take Harbaugh in a heartbeat if he wanted in.
… Leach might get a shot if fans keep supporting the cause and if guys ahead of him don't take the job.
… Butch will never return. Settled in Chapel Hill and that's a step back career-wise. You don't go back to a place where you had tremendous success as the odds of repeating what you did last time are slim, yet that's what you'll be judged by. In business that's a bad career move.
… Gran and Orgeron don't deserve the UM gig at this point. C'mon now. Orgeron went 10-25 in three years at Ole Miss and Gran is a running backs coach at FSU with no head coaching experience.
I think you a little harsh on Tommy Tuberville.He's only 56.That's like 30 in Joe Pa years.Personally,I think TT can rebuild the program , much like Butch did.
Butch was 44 when he took the UM gig. He was hungry and it was his first head coaching gig.
No one is saying TT is old – just saying he's on the back nine of his career. I watched him on ESPN's Signing Day special and he was shaking his head, knowing the uphill battle Randy was facing. Didn't seem like he wanted any part of it. Especially when he can make comparable money at Texas Tech, with lower expectations.
I don't see Miami hiring Leach or Leavitt for the character issue reasons. Beyond that, who knows. I think Harbaugh is as much a reach as Gruden.
… Leach has head coaching experience and his baggage can go away if he drops this lawsuit. Also, if Miami can't get someone higher on the list, Leach becomes more attractive.
… Leavitt would get a DC job at best. You don't get fired from USF for smacking up a player, only to take a year off and then you fall into the UM gig.
… Harbaugh isn't as much a reach as Gruden. Head coach at Stanford and potentially looking to climb the ladder … Michigan job might / might not open … NFL might have lockout next year. Gruden has a Super Bowl ring and Harbaugh has coached at USD and Stanford. Definitely not the same resume.
In addition to Kehoe's lack of HC experience.. Or lack of experience doing anything outside of coaching an offensive line..
If I'm not mistaken he tried to sue the hell out of Miami for being fired during the Coker/dumbass Dee era..
Snowballs chance in hell of him EVER coming back for ANYONE.
I say 1. Harbaugh 2. Leach (at least bring him in for an interview or sell him as OC for Harbaugh)
what about Charlie Strong? He was a great recuiter at UF and has had success so far at louisville Or Erickson?
Perfect scenario Harbaugh as coach and leach as OC and Levitt as DC
What about Jim Mora Jr, he's available, Seahawks are paying him for another two years. He's feiry and ultra competitive. Got a bum rap last year in Seattle, GM quit on him mid season and personnel was bad before that. He said in an interview he wanted a shot at the college game. Just a thought!
AC, why are you and many others in this town held bent on having a "spread" coach, as opposed to a "pro-style" coach you said Miami was so accustomed to? Is the pro-style offense more better or is it more of a Miami tradition?
And my understanding is that more NFL franchises are using the "spread" in their offensive units. Are we somewhat refusing to "get with the times" sort of speak?
why not brent Venables….. also has close ties with hocutt
All is quiet on the western front and it sucks!!! I think I was a lot happier when rumors were flying! GO CANES!!!
Bud Foster?
Butch Davis?
ART KEHOE?
Some of yall have lost your cotdamn minds.
Art is a legendary Cane and like 305 said, I'd love to see him back as offensive line coach, bet head coach? Might be the most lame-brained thing I've ever read here.
Butch had a great run but he's never coming back, nor should he as it'd be impossible to replicate the team he left in 2000-2001.
And Foster? Please. Cut that guy open and he bleeds orange and maroon. Full fledged Hokie who will be their next head coach. Bank on it.
Use your heads, people. Some of the crap you're throwing at the wall here is scary.
Kehoe was the assistant HC under Coker and was fired as the scape goat for Coker's failures..
Kehoe should be a heavy candidate to be brought back to the program. What other coaches in the NCAA can currently sport an entire hand of national championship rings right now ??
Kehoe's resume speaks for itself and in of itself carries enough credibility to warrant a serious consideration for a job of any capacity with the U.. Not to mention the recruiting perks he would bring back to the program and the development he would bring to the offensive line immediately.
http://www.hitrunscore.com/art-kehoe-biography.html
Art Kehoe should absolutely be back at UM in some capacity. I wouldn't argue that. He was railroaded after the 2005 season and it's a shame.
That said, to suggest a lifer offensive line coach for the head coaching position when he has zero experience? No way.
Miami needs a proven head coach or at minimum, an up and coming coordinator like a Malzahn or Venables.
I think Venables already went out proactively and said he wasn't interested..
HOWEVER..ESPN's Heather Dinich (assclown extraordinaire) said something about Bud Foster possibly being interested in the VANDERBILT job if they were to come calling..
I think Mullen or Harbaugh MIGHT be persuaded given the right financial package and incentives. Both would be great though I could see Mullen sticking around for awhile whereas Harbaugh would leave in a flash for the NFL. Mullen would get his shot at winning national championships, something I'm sure he aspires to and is well-aware will never happen at Miss. State.
Peterson MIGHT be persuaded too, though it depends on how ambitious he is and we haven't seen anything to indicate a lot of ambition on his part to leave Boise. He'd be one of the best candidates IMO simply because he knows how to coach and make his players execute consistently, which is EXACTLY what these Canes need to reach that next level.
I HONESTLY THINK TUBERVILLE OR LEACH WILL BE OUR NEXT COACH.
Tuberville wants the job supposedly and IMO the odds are he'll be our next coach. I don't buy the idea that he's too old for the job. Nick Saban is 59; he took the Alabama job when he was 56– same age as TT now–and look at what he's accomplished. Moreover, TT never officially won a championship at Auburn, and I bet this is one of the last chances he'll get to win one as a HC.
There really is no better fit for Miami on this list than TT IMO:
* UM ties
* Tons of HC experience
* Knows how to win, and in the SEC at that!
* Knows how to recruit Florida and the South
* Has won 4 national titles (3 officially as an assistant at Miami and 1 unofficially as a HC at Auburn)
* Is a model citizen off the field * Ran a pro set at Auburn
If not Tuberville, then we'll probably go with Mike Leach. I just don't see a coordinator taking over the reins at The U. They've been burned twice in a row with inexperienced HCs and I really think they'll avoid repeating this mistake at all costs.
I also don't see us going with some of the other 2-star coaches on this list (i.e. Edsall, Trestman, Leavitt, Golden). These guys would be TERRIBLE hires.
Tuberville & Leach would revitalize the fan base–Tuberville for all the reasons listed above + the Miami ties; Leach with his Air Raid attack. They won't be Gruden obviously but they actually might be better coaches overall given their college experience and desire. The other top candidates–Patterson, Harbaugh, Peterson, Mullen–would also stir up fans, but as we all know, their ridiculous reaches. Conversely, a current non-HC, a nutjob like Leavitt, or no-names like Golden, Edsel, and Trestman would MAKE THE FANS RUN!!! Not me obviously–I'm a Cane till I die, even if they let Sebastian coach–but a good portion of the already-frustrated and disappointed Miami fan base would head for the hills.
TUBERVILLE OR LEACH BABY!!! GO CANES!!!
PART I of II
I think Mullen or Harbaugh MIGHT be persuaded given the right financial package and incentives. Both would be great though I could see Mullen sticking around for awhile whereas Harbaugh would leave in a flash for the NFL. Mullen would get his shot at winning national championships, something I'm sure he aspires to and is well-aware will never happen at Miss. State.
Peterson MIGHT be persuaded too, though it depends on how ambitious he is and we haven't seen anything to indicate a lot of ambition on his part to leave Boise. He'd be one of the best candidates IMO simply because he knows how to coach and make his players execute consistently, which is EXACTLY what these Canes need to reach that next level.
I HONESTLY THINK TUBERVILLE OR LEACH WILL BE OUR NEXT COACH.
Tuberville wants the job supposedly and IMO the odds are he'll be our next coach. I don't buy the idea that he's too old for the job. Nick Saban is 59; he took the Alabama job when he was 56– same age as TT now–and look at what he's accomplished. Moreover, TT never officially won a championship at Auburn, and I bet this is one of the last chances he'll get to win one as a HC.
There really is no better fit for Miami on this list than TT IMO:
* UM ties
* Tons of HC experience
* Knows how to win, and in the SEC at that!
* Knows how to recruit Florida and the South
* Has won 4 national titles (3 officially as an assistant at Miami and 1 unofficially as a HC at Auburn)
* Is a model citizen off the field * Ran a pro set at Auburn
If not Tuberville, then we'll probably go with Mike Leach. I just don't see a coordinator taking over the reins at The U. They've been burned twice in a row with inexperienced HCs and I really think they'll avoid repeating this mistake at all costs.
Venables it is. Why no write up? You should add him in the mix.
PART II of II
I also don't see us going with some of the other 2-star coaches on this list (i.e. Edsall, Trestman, Leavitt, Golden). These guys would be TERRIBLE hires.
Tuberville & Leach would revitalize the fan base–Tuberville for all the reasons listed above + the Miami ties; Leach with his Air Raid attack. They won't be Gruden obviously but they actually might be better coaches overall given their college experience and desire. The other top candidates–Patterson, Harbaugh, Peterson, Mullen–would also stir up fans, but as we all know, their ridiculous reaches. Conversely, a current non-HC, a nutjob like Leavitt, or no-names like Golden, Edsel, and Trestman would MAKE THE FANS RUN!!! Not me obviously–I'm a Cane till I die, even if they let Sebastian coach–but a good portion of the already-frustrated and disappointed Miami fan base would head for the hills.
TUBERVILLE OR LEACH BABY!!! GO CANES!!!
Why no mention of Stoops?
IF THIS IS WHAT WE CHOOSE FROM….WHY DID WE FIRE SHANNON?????? HOW ABOUT JIM MORA, DUNGY,MARK RICHT, BUTCH DAVIS,JIMMY JOHNSON,BOB STOOPS,BIG NAMES!!!!!! MIAMI WORTHY!!!! IF THESE TYPE COACHES CANT BE GOT.. THE U IS DEAD…TRUTH HURTS…THE U HAS NO MORE TIME FOR EXPERIMENTS!!!!
Josh Mc Daniels??? I think he would be good in College!
Another name to throw out look at would be Mike Stoops.. He ranks as the #4 defensive coordinator in the country (at the present). He has shown great success at FSU this year and a big part of why FSU has turned it around.
He has been mentioned on several of the rumors and scouts sites as a viable candidate for the U job.
I guess a dream scenario could be Stoops, Kehoe, & Trestman coming.
Stoops – HC/DC
Kehoe – Asst. HC / Head of recruiting
Trestman – OC
Word is Trestman would likely bring Dorsey with him to coach QB's. Kehoe would help lock down recruiting and get this young O-line up to par to create another 1,000 yard back with Miller and/or Johnson.. Trestman would have the opportunity to show if he's a viable candidate for a future HC job in the NCAA.. Possibly with the U.. Stoops would have this defense firing on all cylinders and if FSU wins the ACC tonight, that will further illustrate his potential value for recruiting and coahing..
Just a thought.. What do you guys think ?
Allcanes I got to thinking about Tuberville's age and I don't think that he is too old. At first I did!!
!. Saban is around the same age,
2. Beamer's team wins 10 games evey year
3. Mack Brown is 60ish
4. Edsell is 52 what really the diff. between 52 and 57
SEC proven winner! Nough said I am starting to drink the TT cool-aid!!!
lol..
Typo.. I meant Mark Stoops.
But the scenario could work with both.
Mike as HC
Mark as DC
Kehoe as O-Line/Recruiting
Trestman as OC
Well my fellow Hurricanes, I really see no one on this list that really gets me excited outside of Harbaugh (fat chance) and the curiosity if what Leach could do here. Also I liked the names of Jim Mora jr and Mike Shula getting thrown out there to. Whoever is hired though, we gotta give em a chance. Let's not forget an Auburn team not so long ago protesting at the airports as Chizik arrived as their new headcoach. Do you hear any of them complaining now about that hire. And another name..how about central floridas George O'leary. Has put UCF on the map with little talent and had good team at Geaorgia Tech years ago.
Bring Howard Schnellenberger Back, He has nothing going for him at FAU, and he isnt planning on quitting anytime soon. (I know its a pipe dream and probably a really bad idea) GO CANES!!
But the scenario could work with both. Mike as HC. Mark as DC. Kehoe as O-Line/Recruiting. Trestman as OC.
… you have a better chance of Gruden working for free than that happening. Why would Mark Stoops leave FSU for the same job at UM … and why would Marc Trestman leave a HC job for a coordinator gig in college? Maybe for the NFL, but college? As for Kehoe, would love him back but he burned bridges when he sued UM, so let that dream die.
Allcanes I got to thinking about Tuberville's age and I don't think that he is too old. At first I did!!
My point regarding age is that he's on the downside of his career and has 15 years head coaching experience already at three universities.
Saban is driven and went after Alabama – the toughest job out there with the most demanding fans – after already dealing with LSU.
Brown is 60ish and will retire soon, most likely, and has been at UT for 13 years.
Beamer is over 60 and will most likely retire soon, having given VT about 24 years of his life.
Neither Brown or Beamer is in the running for new, high profile gig where they have to start fresh. They're riding it out.
As for Esdall, he's 52 and has 11 years head coaching experience at UConn – not a major program. Tuberville has seen the big time at Auburn and even Ole Miss and Texas Tech are light years more of a football school than UConn. (Seriously if the Huskies were in any conference besides the Big Least, they're getting run out of town.)
We'll see is Tuberville is up for the challenge. All this talk here is moot. I think he's comfortable in Lubbock and wants no part of the Miami job, which he knows there are high expectations.
IF THIS IS WHAT WE CHOOSE FROM….WHY DID WE FIRE SHANNON?????? HOW ABOUT JIM MORA, DUNGY,MARK RICHT, BUTCH DAVIS,JIMMY JOHNSON,BOB STOOPS,BIG NAMES!!!!!!
… Shannon was fired because he went 28-22 over four years with a 16-16 conference record and was 0-2 in bowl games.
… Dungy and Mora? Why would either come to Miami? Dungy already turned down alma mater Minnesota on a few occasions.
… Davis is at UNC and is content. It's also career suicide to come back to a place where you had the ultimate success, which would never be repeated.
… JJ is fat and happy in the Keys, making millions commentating. He wants to drink Heinekens while fishing. He hasn't been a great coach since he was single, putting football above family. Once his mom passed, he reconnected with his sons and moved south with Rhonda, it was over. Lets not forget that 62-7 ass kicking in his final NFL game. Don't let the 'legend' replace reality. JJ left UM 22 years ago.
… Bob Stoops has OU knocking on the door of another BCS game. Why would he leave one of the most dominant programs of the past decade for a UM team that has been irrelevant for six years?
Peterson MIGHT be persuaded too, though it depends on how ambitious he is and we haven't seen anything to indicate a lot of ambition on his part to leave Boise.
Petersen seems to have no motivation to leave. Happy there, family man, quality of life important, has a good thing going and has oft said he doesn't believe in uprooting his family unit.
why not brent Venables….. also has close ties with hocutt.
Venables has said he's not going anywhere. Only reason Malzahn made the list is because he hasn't denied. Both are long-shot assistants and with Venables saying he's out, no reason to put a long shot assistant on the list.
Tony Dungy? Josh McDaniels? Jimmy Johnson? Art Kehoe? Howard Schnellenberger? Jim Mora? Bob Stoops? An absolute joke of a list. What planet do some of you live on?
Stick to asking people if they want fries with their order as you're obviously not qualified to be UM's athletic director. Absolutely pathetic.
THE LATEST: According to Steve Gorten's blog over at the Sun Sentinel, Hocutt hasn't contact Tuberville or Edsall but is expected to interview several candidates on Monday in NYC, where there will be plenty of coaches in attendance at some awards ceremony. GO CANES!!!
Whatever the choice I'll stand behind the Canes decision.
That said I'm really hoping for Tommy Tuberville, for all the reasons that I & others have mentioned.
AllCanes, I respect your opinion but I don't understand why you're so lukewarm to hiring him.Yes.Ive read what you said but it doesn't seem to be a strong argument against.
Anonymous, I don't mean to rain on your parade about Chizik, but before this year he had a losing record in his coaching career. The only reason he is doing ANYTHING this year is because of Newton. When he leaves, Chizik will be back to his normal bottom dwelling self.
For me, my coaching prefernces are: 1.Gruden 2. Harbaugh 3. Tubs 4. Patterson
I think the next coach HAS to have previous experience as a head coach and be familiar with recruiting in South Florida.
Columbus Cane
Allcanes,
What about Greg Schiano?
Yes i know he turned down the job before but he had a better gig at the time. after watching todays game against wv you can tell he doesn't have the same guys he was able to get before. He had to bench his star qb and is using a under six foot qb who can't see over the line. I think he would be a great canidate for coach at miami. He is fiery and is a ground and pound guy and has a strong defensive mind. I think he would be agreat fit. Plus schiano knows how to recruit florida because he always gets a few recruits from florida every year and he has strong ties in nj where we have gotten some good players before.
Tommy Bowden? come on dude loves running the ball and has always had strong defenses especially against UM. I think he would be a great fit. Also knows how to recruit the state of florida.
Tommy Tubberville. This one i like because i watched him use brown and williams and run his way to a undefeated season. I think he could fit it nicely. I would blame the people around him for his fall at auburn.
just ssome ideas what do you think allcanes?
Mora Jr. would be a great pick. He's got a lot of similarities to Pete Carroll, has expressed a desire in the past to coach at the college level, and is very much available.
We should definitely be talking to Mora Jr.
I agree with some of the other commentators… If Hocutt doesn't make a major hire, then we should've kept Shannon! GO CANES!!!
AllCanes, I respect your opinion but I don't understand why you're so lukewarm to hiring him.Yes.Ive read what you said but it doesn't seem to be a strong argument against.
…. last thing I wrote was that we'll see if he's up for the challenge.
I'm not saying he wouldn't be a good hire. I simply stated that he's getting up there in age, he's on his third head coaching opportunity and outside of two good seasons in ten years at Auburn, the norm for him was 4-5 loss seasons. Four years at Ole Miss ws 4-6 loss seasons and he went 7-5 at Texas Tech year one – the same record Shannon got fired for.
Maybe Tubbs would fit at Miami, but nothing he's done thus far has me overly excited.
What about Greg Schiano?
Just went 4-8 in a very bad Big East. The 11-2 season of 2006 was a fluke. Since then, 8-5, 8-5 and 9-4 before bottoming out this year.
He's been at Rutgers too long to have not done more – especially when poaching South Florida recruits – and there's no excuse that Randy Edsall is doing more at UConn.
Schiano turned us down last time and didn't want to rebuild. Not a fan.
Mora Jr. would be a great pick. He's got a lot of similarities to Pete Carroll, has expressed a desire in the past to coach at the college level, and is very much available.
Then his agent needs to get on the phone with Chuck Neinas. I haven't heard his name mentioned until now.
Randy Edsall actually recruits really well out of Florida for UConn (which is clearly a basketball school).
I had Edsall #2 on my list behind Gruden.
If Hocutt doesn't make a major hire, then we should've kept Shannon! GO CANES!!!
… a rather bogus stance to take. That's like saying the dating game is proving too tough for you, so you should've stayed in a bad marriage instead of getting divorced.
These are two separate issues. Shannon needed to go and until he was gone, Hocutt and Miami couldn't truly gauge interest from other coaches.
Shannon wasn't fired because UM was looking for someone new. He was fired because he wasn't getting the job done. That doesn't change NO MATTER WHO Miami hires.
Shannon has been gone six days and the coaching search goes into high gear on Monday in New York. Give it time.
I had Edsall #2 on my list behind Gruden.
Going to watch Edsall's Huskies with a different eye today when they play South Florida.
Definitely a top five guy. Not in love with the hire, but he deserves an interview and UM should see what he's about. Definitely doing something with a football program at a basketball school. Deserves credit for that.
HELLO PEOPLE!!!!! Do you want to WIN and WIN BIG???!!!! Dont you want to have that SWAG back from the old days? WELL, Leach is that guy! Leach has all the characteristics of a bad a##. Who cares about the lawsuit! He will put tons of points on the board and with better athletes at his disposal the D will be better than at TECH. Wake up! No old tubberville, no edsall, no mullen! Harbaugh would be a good consideration, but Hocutt and the PREZ need to give Leach an interview and give him a second chance!!!!!!
GO CANES! and quit lagging this inevitability and interview LEACH!!!
I would either go for harbaugh or trestman. I'm sure he will well both coaches will have good assistant coaches and also head coaching experience. We all want to hire now but this is a process. Be patient. I am.
Also Randy was over his head andyou feel for a Guy like that. But he will be okay and I wish the best for him.
Now we should all just hope they hire a fiery firsthand coach that cares about winning as well adas academics …
Go canes zarokon
We need a coach that will win period. Whoever makes that happen then we will all be happy. I will support the new coach until it is obvious that we will not compete for major bowls and an ACC championship. Randy, while a great man, had his chance. He needed to go no matter who the new coach is. He is cane for life and I wish him the best in the next job. However, I'm looking forward to a new coach and new life for the Canes. Go CANES!!!!!
Miami Herald article by J Goodman criticizing how Hocutt and Shalala have handled the firing of Randy Shannon:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/03/1955066/um-sending-wrong-message.html
PART 1 of 2:
"That's like saying the dating game is proving too tough for you, so you should've stayed in a bad marriage instead of getting divorced."
Haha… That's a horrible analogy! You can live your life quite normally and happily as a single guy; you can't operate a football team AT ALL without a HC! In other words, being "single" isn't an option when it comes to the HC position.
Either way, I get what you're trying to say. I'm just extending the sentiment that you and others on here have shared that Miami is on the precipice of becoming a permanently irrelevant program, not just nationally but locally, and that making the right hire is the first and necessary step to avoiding that calamity.
If we make a big splash hire–one that revitalizes the fan base immediately and that brings in more W's, championships (at least conference championships), and an end-of-year Top 10 ranking in 1-3 years–then that scenario goes away.
However, if we go with someone who instead of reestablishing some level of confidence in the fan base further alienates and frustrates them–someone with a bad rap like Leavitt or a nobody like Edsall, Golden or Trestman–then that alone would give onlookers the perception that A) we're irrelevant and B) we're accepting the fact that we're irrelevant. I can already hear opposing recruiters whisper this in recruits ears.
This doesn't necessarily happen if we keep Shannon one more year, especially if he fires a few assistants as scape-goats. As we have seen, Shannon, despite his many failures, still has a lot of admirers and supporters, including players and recruits. I'll admit things would've been bad had he stayed, but NOT NECESSARILY WORSE than under a crappy new hire. Plus, we'd still have the option of firing him.
PART 2 of 2:
BOTTOM LINE: Who we hire next as our next HC is of CRITICAL IMPORTANCE. Kirby knows this, hence why he went so vigorously after the biggest fish in the pond first. But everyone else also knows this–especially after Kirby's failure to land Gruden. This means that a hire that doesn't move the meter in the positive direction is as bad as keeping Shannon one more year–and possibly worse. WE NEED TO LAND A BIG FISH!
So gimme some Tuberville, some Leach, or some of the other 5-star hires on this list–Petersen, Patterson, Harbaugh, Mullen–or else things aren't going to improve, at least not in the perception of our base and our advesaries.
GO CANES!!!!!
Haha… That's a horrible analogy! You can live your life quite normally and happily as a single guy; you can't operate a football team AT ALL without a HC! In other words, being "single" isn't an option when it comes to the HC position.
It's actually a perfect analogy and you missed the point.
It isn't about being single.
It's about having been married, trying to work it out, deciding to get divorced and then feeling alone after the fact and questioning your decision — which is what a lot of Miami fans are doing right now as they thought 'dating' (re: courting Jon Gruden) would be fun and now it's Saturday night and UM fans are home alone with no coach, wondering if the made the right choice leaving wifey (re: Shannon) and are now worried about the future.
Problem right now is fans want a 'sexy' name but are quick to forget that Jimmy Johnson was a 'nobody' from Oklahoma State … that Dennis Erickson was a 'nobody' from Washington State … that Butch Davis was a 'nobody' and perennial assistant under JJ.
None of the three were first choice candidates that fans wanted.
Hell, if UM faithful got their way, Gary Stevens might've gotten the job over Erickson and Tom Olivadotti would've taken over instead of JJ.
Kirby just needs to channel his inner Sam Jankovich, dig deep, go with his gut and find the 'right' guy. Not the popular guy or the ones the same fans scream for.
The same fans who were anti-Randy for four years … and are now having that 'oh shit' moment, playing the "ma
Great points and thanks for the great discussion AllCanes!
While I agree that Miami succeeded in the past with non-sexy HC hires, there wasn't that "End of Days" feeling that there is now about the program.
Moreover, non-sexy hires in those days, as we all know, actually succeeded, whereas the last two such hires at The U are considered overall failures (Coker more so than Shannon, even with a better overall record and the 2001 NC).
Finally, it's difficult to not want a sexy hire given the success that UF and Alabama have had under their top-notch hires. I think I speak for a majority of Miami fans when I say that "we deserve better if not the best." Maybe that isn't true given our performance these last few years but definitely when you put together our entire body of work (i.e. 5 rings in the past 30 years, in serious contention for about 10 others, staggering history of sending quality players to the NFL).
I'll be reasonable and admit that it's possible we'll succeed with a relatively unknown HC at the helms of the program, but The U will definitely take a huge publicity-hit if it does, which will affect our recruiting, which will affect our ability to win down the road. It won't be the end of the world, but the media and our opponents are sure to paint it as such.
A sexy-hire is the safe bet given the current circumstances IMO. It's what the alumni and the fans want, what the recruits want, and precisely what the opposition DOESN'T want.
GO CANES!!!!
To suggest that you need to have been an Offensive Coordinator to be a head coach is narrow minded. Consider the great coaching legends that Art Kehoe has coached under. Snell, Erickson, Davis, Johnson, Coker, perhaps exclude Coker even though his overall record far exceeds Shannon's. You want someone that wears his emotions on his sleeves and will motivate young men from the heart. Offensive lineman are often the unsung heroes of any football programs success. Kehoe knows how to motivate men! To suggest that because he hasn't been an Offensive coordinator during his career should exclude him is foolish. Of all the men that have been named as potential candidates for the head coaching job at Miami, Kehoe is the only one capable of bringing swift results. If you put kehoe in a room with any of the named candidates and shut the door and informed everyone that the man that exits the room last would be the next coach, Kehoe would make short work of each and every one of them. Again ask anyone that has played with him or for him. He will get in your face and bring the best out of you. As far as sueing the University. He was owed back pay, would you expect him to tuck his tail between his legs and say okay do whatever you want to me. He is a fighter and competitor. When he gets his opportunity he will bring instant success. The reason he will be successful is because he has never lost his true belief that a team is not about Art Kehoe but about his players and making them good athletes as well as good men. Most of all, it's about the "U"
Listen to these names. We are expecting everyone to drop everything and run to this job. This isnt miami from 1984-2002. Harbaugh isnt coming to miami. stanford is better than miami and i hate saying it. Look at nebraska. Bo pelini was a great hire. who brought him up? Saban. So why is Kirby Smart's name not being thrown around. Cam Newton did nothing running the ball against his defense. and wait about two years that secondary will be scary. he was about to leave for uga's dc job if bama hadnt upped his salary. if he turns the job down call mike leach. go to canesport.com and read the interview he did. he wants the job. BAD. he wants another shot at the big time. this is miami not an ivy league school. we are known for fights guns fatigues etc. bring back the swagger to miami. leach would do that. not mullen not harbaugh. especially not peterson. give the man the job. read that article and you will want leach too.
How quickly everyone forgets. Randy Shannon was your coach because no one else would work for a second rate university for a measly million per year. The U was forced to "stay in the family" because family was the only one willing to work for below scale wages. If Shalala was serious about winning, she would have hired a winning athletic director, not Doogie Howser. Sam Jankovich was a man…made the tough decisions, and hit it out of the park with his head coaching picks. A fish rots from the head down; so start at the president, then the A.D. As for Keogh, if he were so great, why did EVERYONE leave him behind for the next guy to deal with?
How quickly everyone forgets. Randy Shannon was your coach because no one else would work for a second rate university for a measly million per year.
Ahmed, Miami offered Greg Schiano TWO MILLION DOLLARS annually to coach 'The U' back in late 2006 and he turned it down because (1) he wanted academic standards lowered and (2) his wife didn't want to move back to South Florida as she's a born and bred northeastener.
…. and it's KEHOE, not Keogh and "everyone" didn't leave him behind. A few coaches offered to take him with but he chose to stay at UM because he loved the college game — and I got that straight from Art himself, having made that same assessment in the past, which he quickly corrected.
No one offered Shiano ANYTHING! He ASKED for $2 million for himself AND $2 million for his assistants. He also ASKED that the facilities improvements commence IMMEDIATELY. And that comes straight from Paul Dee. Shiano used UM for leverage with Rutgers. Secondly, of course KEHOE would say he got offers, but he didn't. In fact, Sonny Lubick balked at the UM REQUIRMENT that Kehoe be kept on the staff when he was contacted before Butch was hired. You have to be wary of resumes that include but one city, and that includes Kehoe, Solinger, AND Shannon.
I think we should hire Ed Hudak as head coach. He's been the right hand man for the last 5 head coaches. He's mean as a rattlesnake, played for Schnellenberger, forgot more about football than Art Kehoe will ever know, and is always packing. He would continue Randy's theme of good player behavior because he could arrest them himself.