Miami football: Dan Enos left Central Michigan due to lack of support

Miami football offensive coordinator Dan Enos did not mince words when asked about his five years as head coach at Central Michigan. Enos stated he did not get the support at Central Michigan he was expecting.

Dan Enos was 26-36 as a head coach as Central Michigan from 2009-14. Enos’ journey to joining the Miami football program as offensive coordinator could eventually land him his next opportunity as a head coach. Enos was able to be a head coach in his home state.

Enos began his tenure at Central Michigan with a 6-18 record in his first two seasons. The Chippewas went 20-18 in his final two seasons. That included winning the 2012 Little Ceaser’s Bowl and a loss in the 2014 Popeyes’ Bahamas Bowl. The loss in Nassau was Enos’ last game as the head coach of Central Michigan.

The former Michigan State quarterback left to accept the offensive coordinator position at Arkansas. Enos spent three seasons leading the Razorbacks offense before coaching the quarterbacks at Alabama in 2018. He has quickly turned around the offense for the Miami football team.

Coaching players at the highest levels of college football should help Enos’ progression as a college football coach. The different coaches Enos has worked with will help his system evolve. Enos’ decision to leave Central Michigan was that he felt the dedication of the Central Michigan administration did not match his.

Enos stepped into a tough situation following the success of the Central Michigan football program led by current Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and former Tennessee head coach Butch Jones. Both Kelly and Jones left the Chippewas for Cincinnati and then Power Five jobs. Enos discussed his time in Mount Pleasant.

"“The big reason I left was that the president at the time and the administration—I was putting my heart and soul into the program and they were not putting their heart and soul into Dan Enos, if you will.When you put your heart and soul into something, and you give it everything you have, you want people giving you that same type of backup in return.And we just felt like after five years we weren’t getting that, just felt like our best move for our family at the time and my career was to take the opportunity that (Arkansas Head) Coach Bret Bielema had given us, and it turns out it’s been good.My time there with the people I was able to work with from a day-to-day standpoint — the staff, the operations, the trainers, strength staff and everything — was an A-plus,” Enos said. “I loved the players and everything, but at that time it was just time to move on.”"

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Enos has the leadership skills to be a head coach again. He is highly regarded as an astute offensive mind. Enos tutored Alabama quarterback Tua Tagaovailoa and the Crimson Tide QBs to set the FBS record for passing efficiency in a single season. Enos elaborated on being a head coach again.

"“Would I like to be a head coach again? Absolutely if the opportunity presents itself. I’m a different person than I was in 2009 when I got that job. I’m in a different place.I think sometimes when you’re young in your career, you’re consumed with being a head coach, like that’s just the ultimate goal, and again I was blessed and fortunate to have that opportunity, but then as you move through life you realize that sometimes — I don’t have to be a head coach, is what I’m trying to say.I love being a coordinator. I love coaching offense, calling plays, coaching QBs and when you’re a head coach, some of that stuff you can’t do.If the opportunity presents itself and it’s an unbelievable opportunity we would certainly consider it, but I’m very, very happy doing what I’ve been doing. Different things happen for different reasons.”"

The combination of Enos and Hurricanes QB Jarren Williams have led a big turnaround in the passing game for the Miami football program in 2019. Miami was 115th in passer efficiency in 2018. The Hurricanes have skyrocketed to 32nd in 2019. With Williams and Enos, the Hurricanes offense should continue to evolve.