Miami football program hiring Alonzo Highsmith is complicated
Expecting Highsmith to be the panacea and elevate the Miami football program solely because of his presence borders on idol worship. It would take Highsmith, Diaz, James and the entire Miami football staff working together to evaluate talent and bring in recruits. Miami has the nation’s 17th best signing class for 2020.
Diaz and his staff have proven they can recruit following a less than stellar 6-7 season. The Miami football staff is high on the players coming in for 2020. If the Hurricanes can have a better season in 2020 that should lead to a better-recruiting class in 2021. The Miami Board of Trustees is frustrated.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald was informed by one member of the Hurricanes Board of Trustees that “The trustees are up in arms, very upset about football. Blake and Manny are on notice.” Another trustee told Jackson that there is a possibility that some donations could be withheld.
Both trustees reported that both James and Diaz have jobs that are safe for now. The board of trustees does not want to fire a coach one year into a five-year contract. Add into that Miami had to pay Temple a $4 million buyout to bring Diaz back to MIami 18 days after taking the job in Philadelphia.
James, Daiz and Highsmith are still reportedly in conversations to bring the former Miami RB back to Coral Gables for the chief of staff position. Jackson stated that Highsmith “would carry no level of authority to make unilateral decisions.” in the chief of staff position. James does not want someone looking over Diaz’s shoulder.