Miami football seldom prioritizes experience with head coaching hires

Miami football: Larry Coker 2001-2006

Coker also began his coaching career in high school in Oklahoma from 1971-78. The first college job for Coker was as the QB and running backs coach at Tulsa in 1979. Coker was the Golden Hurricanes OC from 1980-82. In 1983 Coker moved to Oklahoma State where he was the OC under Johnson for one season.

Miami finished 53-9 in the first five seasons under Coker. In year two the Hurricanes went 11-0 in the regular season before a controversial game against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl which ended with Buckeyes being awarded the National Championship. The Miami football team finished 9-3 in years three and four under Coker.

Randy Shannon 2007-2010

Shannon was hired in 2001 as the defensive coordinator to replace Greg Schiano to left to return home to New Jersey to coach Rutgers. Following his playing career with the Hurricanes and two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys under Johnson, Shannon returned to the Miami football program as a graduate assistant in 1991.

Shannon led an experienced Miami defense in 2001 that paced the nation in scoring allowing 9.8 points per game. The Hurricanes finished 12-0 and won the National Championship. Shannon was the DC for all six seasons under Coker. After Coker was fired, Shannon was named the head coach for the 2007 season.