Stoops back to The U?

Let me start by saying, I have no real conformation here. This is simply a gut feeling based on what a few ‘in the know’ folks have mentioned to me. Mark Stoops name has recently been linked to the defensive coordinator opening at Miami and I’m hearing there could be some legs here.

Stoops is currently defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Arizona, where’s he’s coached since leaving his post as secondary coach at Miami after the 2003 season. Older brother Mike Stoops was named UA’s head coach in 2004 and lured little brother west with a promotion to DC.

On paper, this jump would be a lateral move as it’s one defensive coordinator position for another. That said, DC at Miami is absolutely a step up from DC at Arizona. Especially in an effort to climb the coaching ladder.

We’ll see what surfaces, but time is becoming of the essence. Tim Walton was let go three weeks ago and signing day is less than a month away.

A few rumored former candidates didn’t remain on the market for long, like Brian Van Gorder (took the DC gig at South Carolina) and DeWayne Walker (stayed on board as DC at UCLA).

Pickings are getting slim and Stoops would be a good hire. He has proven skills as a recruiter and spent 2001-2003 at Miami; in the thick of the most recent glory days. Stoops did a bang up job with the Canes secondary during that era and spent the past three seasons sharpening his skills as a defensive coordinator.

Another reason ‘Stoops to Miami’ makes sense is the fact that 2008 is year five in big brother’s tenure as head coach for Arizona. 

Mike Stoops isn’t officially on the hot seat, but sitting unpretty at 17-29 since 2004, the heat will be on soon enough if the Wildcats don’t significantly improve next season. Team Stoops could be on their way out of the desert and a Miami-like opportunity might not be in the cards for Brother Mark if Arizona doesn’t turn things around over the course of 2008.

‘Stoops to Miami’ seems insanely logical right now (which means it probably won’t happen.) Let’s see how things play out over the next few days. This would be the best move for the Canes at this point in time. Should it not come to fruition, we could be one step closer to seeing Randy Shannon step up and handle defensive coordinator and head coaching duties in 2008.

.:Canes305:.

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