Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt appears to have hit a home run with his hiring of Al Golden, simply based on the attitude, mindset, game plan and tenacity Golden’s brought to UM since his December hiring.
After working tirelessly to build a staff, while also recruiting like a mad man, Golden made his final staff hiring on Monday and it sent Hurricane Nation into a frenzy. Longtime offensive line coach and Miami legend Art Kehoe is headed back to Coral Gables – the missing ingredient regarding this machine Golden is building.
From day one, Golden showed that he’s a believer is the University of Miami brand, playing up the importance of five national championships and the rich history of this storied program. In his inaugural presser, Golden rattled off Hurricane great – and even some lesser know, yet equally as important cogs in the system. While at Penn State, Golden’s Nittany Lions lost to Miami on a few occasions and even as an outside looking in, back then Golden saw firsthand what made the Canes tick.
Kehoe’s resume and larger than life personality are as big a piece of the Miami story than anything else. The only person in Hurricane history who can boast about being a part of every title won or lost, Kehoe always bled orange and green and was a one-man pep rally stuffed into an offensive lineman’s body.
Around two years ago I wrote a less-than-kind piece on Kehoe. Something that felt right at the time, was quickly forgotten as I moved on to the next story.
Unfortunate, the World Wide Web doesn’t have selective memory and a quick Google search brought the article front and center, as well as to Art’s attention. Days later, I received a phone call and felt a wrath akin to the one Carlos Joseph probably felt after getting worked in the 2003 Fiesta.
I may not always say or do the right thing in the moment, but those who know can tell you I’m not afraid to eat crow or take my medicine. I let Art have at me for a good hour and by the end of the call, earned back his respect. I took my well-deserved beating like a man, apologized for my words and learned a harsh lesson.
It was also the first time in fifteen years that I went back and deleted an article, knowing I’d taken the wrong approach and wasn’t comfortable standing by it. Art was right and I was wrong.
Kehoe to Miami might be Golden’s biggest ‘recruit’ of this off-season. A slew of young, energetic, fiery up and comers have been brought on board to help resurrect this stagnant program, but a connection to the past – something obviously important to Golden – was missing.
Art Kehoe truly is the puzzle’s final piece. He’s been there, done that and is a walking encyclopedia of Hurricanes Football. He’s seen every All-American this program had to offer over the past three decades and he’s been a part of championship teams, as well as the lean years both in the 90s and 00s.
Kehoe has always proven he can coach up talent, but was at times accused of laziness on the recruiting trail. If indeed that was the case, it won’t be anymore. Not just because Coach Golden won’t settle for it – but because Kehoe is getting a second lease on life.
How many times do we get a do over when we make a mistake? How often does life deal us another shot at our dream job? When speaking with Art last year, he was in Mississippi and was in between jobs. I heard the pain in the man’s voice. He lost an opportunity he never thought he’d lose – and he was a scapegoat, at that.
Leaving his home on less than stellar terms, he proved he was a survivor, spending two years at Ole Miss under Ed Orgeron. From there a stint in the UFL with the California Redwoods and all after spending a quarter of a century – half his life – at ‘The U’.
One can only imagine the sleepless nights Kehoe had over the past few years, wondering if he zigged where he should’ve zagged. The resentment of being wrong while trying to put it in the past, attempting to do right. Weeks back when Jeff Stoutland left for Alabama, you can only imagine Art’s initial reaction. Could it be? Would he get a shot at redemption?
How many hours did he wait for that call from Golden and how on pins and needles has he lived since interviewing – dream job back in his sights – praying he’d be rehired.
The dream has come true and Art’s ride has come full circle. A second chance has been allotted and if there’s anyone who is going to make the most of it, it’s Arthur Francis Kehoe. Welcome home, Coach.