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.
I feel like a chick… my eyes watered.. A huge injustice has finally been undone.. Welcome Home Kehoe, welcome HOME….
Awesome editorial- I am a cane, and I found your words to be moving. Im glad that 2 good guys, yourself and Coach Kehoe, are getting a second chance,and that neither of you gave up. I think the fire has come back to Miami and I can't wait to we show the world it IS all about the U!
Thanks again for the inspiring read and I look forward to more.
Al Golden has impressed me as much as I can be impressed outside of what happens on the field. The passion, the intensity, etc. Welcome back old warrior…Arthur Francis Kehoe is coming home.
Canes 305:
Great write up! Kehoe is indeed the link to the past that will be vital in our resurgence.
Golden impresses me more and more which each calculated move that he makes. I think this was he best.
Im the one that blasted you with a response when I googled Art's name month's after that article was posted. I also brought it to his attention. I did get it wrong about who you were and what your motivation was. I still feel your timing was awful when he was just being honored and there wasn't any mentioning of his return and you decided to write such a disparaging blog about why the U shouldn't want him back. But I do respect your honesty and retraction and apology to him. That takes a lot!
Art is coming back and is going to do nothing but work his balls off at every aspect of his job to bring the Canes back to the top where they belong. The thing is, he never did anything but just that until he was unjustly fired. Good Luck Art and GO CANES!!!!
I did get it wrong about who you were and what your motivation was. I still feel your timing was awful when he was just being honored and there wasn't any mentioning of his return and you decided to write such a disparaging blog about why the U shouldn't want him back
…based on the state of Miami football at the time and the frustration we were feeling as fans, a lot of folks failed to see the forest for the trees – not just me.
Art was wronged by UM and I'm glad he's getting a chance at redemption — which isn't a guarantee in this life.
I have no doubt that he'll go balls out with this second chance and look forward to seeing Art Kehoe v. 2.0 in the coming years.
Great job by Coach Golden in seeing that a Kehoe-like coach was a must.
You showed some serious cojones with your mea culpa, Canes305. Very cool on your part and the exact type of guy I want covering The U. Great job and welcome back Art!
Pure ART-isrty.
Now,,, Right NOW,,,,, finally,,,,, we have come the full circle.
All the negative Karma,,, has sailed.
From here,,, we perservere to forward.
JMG
Tampa
Go CANES…….
why wasn't soldinger brought back? I mean, yes, the new guy is good, but Soldinger is soldinger…
also, can you imagine seantrel+kehoe?
I'm not a Kehoe fan. . .
but this story transcends my Cane football. talk about second chances, redemption. . . anything is possible. guys are on deathrow with dreams like this.
Art Kehoe returns from exile…
Two thumbs up on this hire. Now get some of the great players there in the summer for some unoffical coaching.
…Wasn't this the guy that filed a civil lawsuit against the university? And the players he coached and brought in towards the back end of his tenure were less than stellar. I think Brock Berlin and Kyle Wright can attest to that, as they spent the majority of their careers looking up from the flat of their backs.
I know the guy's got a great history with the university, but I really don't understand the excitement.
..
People can't have it both ways. People can't say that Kehoe was a bad recruiter and then say that his product was less than stellar.
Kehoe was coaching what was brought in to him. And Coker didn't really seem to appreciate actually EVALUATING a player as much as he did reading the star system..
We had pathetically undersized offensive linemen during the end of Kehoe's tenure and when is the last time you've seen an undersized offensive line have any success against defensive lines of today?
Kehoe may have slacked on recruiting, and recruiting poor talent could translate into a poor result on the field, even if he had worked with them the same way he did with Canadian transfers and walk on Joaquin Gonzalez..
I don't really get it. No other school was interested in hiring him. What does that really say? Not really in demand.
Once again we are living in the past. This is terrible.
Your optimism knows no bounds. Golden could have hired Uncle Luke to be defensive coordinator and you would have been praising the hire. Hell Golden could have hired a shit on a stick to be defensive coordinator and you could have found a way to make it be positive.
I don't really get it. No other school was interested in hiring him. What does that really say? Not really in demand.
Once again we are living in the past. This is terrible.
Your optimism knows no bounds. Golden could have hired Uncle Luke to be defensive coordinator and you would have been praising the hire. Hell Golden could have hired a shit on a stick to be defensive coordinator and you could have found a way to make it be positive.
You're entitled to your opinion.
The verdict is that Art slacked in recruiting on Coker's watch, but no one ever questioned his ability to coach kids up or motivate.
Jimmy Johnson spoke to Al Golden personally and backed the hire, as well.
Golden is intent on having a connection the past and no one represents Miami football more that Art Kehoe.
The rest of the staff is full of young up and comers and was in need of a grizzly old veteran with ties to yesteryear.
Art is getting a second chance at his dream job so it's a safe bet he'll bring more enthusiasm to the experience this time around. Knowing what he already lost, no way he'll ever let up again.
Personally I'd rather hear from Shit On A Stick than you, PrimeTime.