Miami football seldom prioritizes experience with head coaching hires

Only two of the last six head coaching hires by the Miami football program were previously head coaches at the college level. Al Golden was the head coach at Temple for five seasons before Miami hired him in 2011. Mark Richt was the head coach at Georgia for 15 years before taking over at Miami for the 2016 season.

Butch Davis in 1995, his successors Larry Coker in 2001, Randy Shannon in 2007 and Richt’s successor and current Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz all earned their inaugural head coaching jobs with the Miami football program. Coker was by far the most successful with a National Champion in 2001 and runner-up in 2002.

Davis succeeded Dennis Erickson who was 63-9 with two National Championships in his six seasons with Miami. The Hurricanes lost 25 scholarships and had a one-year postseason ban at the end of the first season under Davis because of a financial aid scandal. Davis was 51-20 in six seasons with the Miami football program.

Davis began his career as a high school coach in Oklahoma from 1973-78. Miami legend Jimmy Johnson hired Davis as the tight ends and wide receivers coach at Oklahoma State in 1978. Davis stayed with Johnson as his assistant for 11 years with Miami and the Dallas Cowboys before returning to the Hurricanes.

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Following an 11-1 2000 season which Miami concluded with a victory over Florida in the Sugar Bowl, Davis left to became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Coker was the offensive coordinator and QB coach for all six seasons under Davis. Miami choose continuity naming Coker the head coach to replace Davis.