Miami football program hiring Alonzo Highsmith is complicated
The public outcry from Miami football fans and reportedly from the Board of Trustees for hiring Alonzo Highsmith has reached a fever pitch. Bringing in Highsmith is complicated and doesn’t automatically return the Hurricanes to the nation’s elite.
Recent reports in South Florida media reported that the Chief of Staff position with the Miami football program is open and there for the taking if former Hurricanes running back Alonzo Highsmith wants it. The entire situation is fluid and complicated. Highsmith is still the Cleveland Browns vice president of player personnel.
Since the end of the Browns season last month they have dismissed head coach Freddie Kitchens before black Monday arrived. The dismissal of Kitchens was followed by the firing of general manager John Dorsey. Dorsey brought Highsmith to Cleveland from Green Bay. Highsmith’s future in Cleveland is in jeopardy.
The potential runs everything from Highsmith getting fired to him being promoted replace Dorsey. Highsmith could also remain in his current position. Manny Navarro of The Athletic detailed that several reports stated the Highsmith would be dismissed.
Eight days after the firing of Kitchens and about a week after Dorsey, Highsmith is still employed by Cleveland. The outcry to hire Highsmith as the Chief of Staff with the Miami football program is placing higher expectations on what will happen than is likely reality. Some fans and media want him in a general manager type job.
I don t believe the equal power part if this true we will become a pariah with top coaches & agents & Blake knows this https://t.co/8eqohZI1vv
— Kelvin Harris (@Ebonylifestyles) January 4, 2020
Adding Highsmith in a GM type role instead of the Chief of Staff that head coach Manny Diaz and athletic director Blake James are looking for would be a nearly unprecedented move. When Arizona State instituted a similar restructuring in December 2017 the Sun Devils were widely panned.
Arizona State does not have someone in place with the NFL experience of Highsmith. Herm Edwards came out of retirement and working as an analyst at ESPN to take the job of the Sun Devils head coach and de facto CEO. Former Miami offensive lineman Kelvin Harris has been vocal about the fallout of hiring Highsmith.