Miami Hurricanes linebackers coach Travis Williams has officially left to become the defensive coordinator at Central Florida. Williams leaves only 17 days after being hired. Williams previously was at Auburn where he worked under Gus Malzahn who was hired as the UCF head coach on Monday.
Williams told Andrea Adelson of ESPN that Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz told him“you have to take that, it’s a great opportunity.” The hiring of Williams was made official by UCF on Wednesday morning. Williams had a variety of roles at Auburn in seven seasons working for Malzahn on The Plains.
Williams was a defensive assistant in 2014–2015, the Tigers LB coach from 2016–2018 and added the title of co-defensive coordinator in 2019–2020. Williams was the last hire on a reconstructed Miami defensive coaching staff for 2021. Strikers coach Jonathan Patke is the only defensive coach returning from 2020.
The opportunity for Williams to become defensive coordinator was something he could not pass up. Diaz added the title of defensive coordinator for the 2021 season after Blake Baker left to become the LB coach at Auburn. Diaz took over playing calling responsibilities on defense before Baker left Miami.
I asked new UCF DC Travis Williams about the decision to leave Miami after a few weeks. He said Manny Diaz told him, "You have to take that, it's a great opportunity." Said when Gus Malzahn reached out to him it peaked his interest. "Where do I sign up? It was a no brainer."
— Andrea Adelson (@aadelsonESPN) February 17, 2021
Williams replaces former Miami LB, defensive coordinator and head coach Randy Shannon at UCF. Diaz could promote defensive analyst Bob Shoop who was hired earlier this month to replace Williams. Shoop is a longtime DC with extensive experience in the SEC. Williams is regarded as an exceptional recruiter.
Linebacker was a position that underachieved for Miami in 2020. The Hurricanes bring back everyone at LB and signed two in the Class of 2021. Hiring a LB coach who is also an adept recruiter will be important for Diaz. With spring practice less than a month away, expect Miami to act quickly.