Don’t expect Clemson’s Scott to be Miami football Offensive Coordinator

The speculation surrounding who will be the new Offensive Coordinator for the Miami football team has run rampant this week. Don’t expect it to be Clemson Co-Offensive Coordinator Jeff Scott.

Manny Diaz and Miami Athletic Director Blake James agreed that for the best of the Miami football program going forward they should relieve the entire Offensive staff of their jobs. That began the speculation of who would replace Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown and who would succeed Mark Richt as the play caller.

The initial speculation began on New Year’s Day with former North Carolina Head Coach Larry Fedora to head Manny Diaz and the Miami Football team’s offensive coaching staff. That lasted a few days.

On Thursday a report emerged that Miami was going to hire former Houston Head Coach Major Applewhite as the new Offensive Coordinator. Applewhite and Diaz worked together as Coordinators at Texas ironically under former and new North Carolina Head Coach Mack Brown.

Diaz refuted that the Miami football program was close to hiring Applewhite in an interview with CBS4’s Mike Cugno that was stated on Thursday morning.

That began the wild speculation on who it would be next. Toledo Offensive Coordinator Brian Wright and Clemson’s Co-Offensive Coordinators Tony Elliott and Scott have all been considered candidates.

Elliott was one of the names being floated as Richt’s potential successor in the ten-hour window between the announcement of Richt’s retirement and Diaz being hired. If Miami was somehow able to pry one of the Co-Offensive Coordinators from Clemson Scott seems like the more likely candidate.

Elliott is Clemson’s primary play-caller according to the Charleston Post and Courier. Could Scott be ready to run his own offense? During media day for the College Football Playoff Championship in Santa Clara, California, Scott said he doesn’t see himself leaving Clemson for another Offensive Coordinator position.

"“I don’t see myself leaving for another coordinator position…Our plan is to stay together as long as we can until a head coaching opportunity comes up we can’t pass up. I know for myself that’s what my goal is."

Scott is Clemson’s Wide Receiver’s Coach and works on the Clemson passing game while Elliott Coordinates the running game as the Running Backs Coach. It’s logical that Scott would want the chance to calls plays, but he stated differently.

"“The way that coach (Dabo) Swinney treats myself and Tony really as true co-coordinators and not a title, it’s really put myself in a position where I don’t need to leave to be the play caller.I feel like I can be a coordinator right here at Clemson. I think at that point when you kind of eliminate other OC opportunities it really kind of makes it streamline to being patient and waiting for the right head coaching opportunity…“Tony and I work together very well. Coach Swinney treats us great…My background and experience with the receivers and the passing game and Tony kind of has his background and experience in the running game, we’re a great team together.”"

With Scott seemingly out, that puts the search back to Applewhite, Wright and other candidates that haven’t been mentioned as often. Another name to watch could be Louisville Quarterbacks Coach Frank Ponce. Ponce worked with new Cardinals Head Coach Scott Satterfield at Appalachian State and FIU.

Before spending six seasons at FIU Ponce was a high school coach in Miami for 15 years. That would be a key for Diaz in recruiting. Wright was previously an Assistant Coach at Florida Atlantic. Applewhite has no experience coaching in Florida. That could be a determining factor for what Diaz is looking for.