59 Days to Miami football: Legendary OL and Coach Art Kehoe

Art Kehoe is a legendary figure in the history of the Miami football program as a former offensive lineman and assistant coach. Kehoe spent more than 20 years with the Hurricanes.

Art Kehoe is one of the most beloved people in the history of the Miami football program as a former offensive lineman and assistant coach. Kehoe began his era with the Hurricanes as an offensive guard during the first season under Howard Schnellenberger in 1979. Kehoe was a transfer from Lacey Junior College.

Kehoe spent two seasons in the Miami offensive line and was a captain blocking for Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and former Miami head coach Mark Richt. Kehoe played a key role on the Miami offensive line as the 1980 Hurricanes won the Peach Bowl 20-10 over Virginia Tech.

Kehoe began his coaching career as a student assistant at Miami under Schnellenberger in 1981. From 1982-84 Kehoe was a graduate assistant for the Hurricanes. Jimmy Johnson elevated Kehoe to offensive line assistant in 1985. Kehoe remained in that position under Dennis Erickson through the 1991 season.

In 1992 Kehoe added the role of tight ends coach which he retained concurrently being the offensive line assistant from 1995-2001. From 2002-2005, Kehoe was the offensive line coach for Miami. In 2006 and 2007 Kehoe added the title of assistant head coach and offensive line coach.

After the 2007 season, Kehoe was not retained on the Miami football staff and he became the assistant offensive line coach and assistant head coach at Mississippi under current LSU National Championship head coach Ed Orgeron. Kehoe returned to Miami under former Hurricanes head coach Al Golden in 2011.

During his Miami career as an assistant coach, Kehoe coached five first-team All-Americans.  Offensive tackles, Leon Searcy in 1991, Joaquin Gonzalez in 2000 and Bryant McKinnie in 2001, guard Richard Mercier in 1999 and centers K.C. Jones in 1996 and Brett Romberg in 2002.

Kehoe is recovering from a stroke he suffered earlier this year. One of the most important people in help building the Miami football dynasty, Art Kehoe is the greatest Hurricanes player to wear number 59.