The Miami Hurricanes are losing offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to SMU as the Mustangs head coach. Lashlee significantly upgraded the Miami offense in his two years as coordinator. Prior to being hired by Miami head coach Manny Diaz in January 2020, Lashlee was the offensive coordinator at SMU in 2018 and 2019.
Lashlee is replacing his former boss at SMU. Sonny Dykes is leaving SMU after four seasons and a 30-17 record. The Miami Hurricanes offense improved from 25.7 points per game in 2019 under Dan Enos as offensive coordinator to 34.0 in the first season under Lashlee in 2020. Miami is averaging 32.9 PPG in 2021.
Miami averaged 367.4 total yards per game in the lone season under Enos in 2019. The Hurricanes improved to 440.4 total yards per game in 2020 and 442.6 yards per game in 2021. Lashlee has shown throughout his career the ability to adapt to different quarterbacks. D’Eriq King and Tyler Van Dyke shined for Miami.
Lashlee will have a pair of elite QBs to work with at SMU. Tanner Mordechai has thrown for 3,330 yards, 38 TDs and 10 interceptions this season after transferring from Oklahoma. Mordechai was a teammate of Miami wide receiver Charleston Rambo with the Sooners. The heir apparent to Mordechai is Preston Stone.
No two men have been more impactful in moving UM football forward in the last 10 years. Lashlee brought the spread offense, King was the QB the Canes had been searching for since Berlin. Here’s hoping TVD and new OC can keep it going. Good luck to @DeriqKing_ & @rhettlashlee pic.twitter.com/JRccb88M6c
— David Hamilton (@DavidHamiltonTV) November 26, 2021
Stone was recruited by Lashlee and signed with SMU in the Class of 2020. Lashlee left for Miami shortly after Stone signed with the Mustangs. Lashlee oversaw a prolific SMU offense in his two seasons with the Mustangs. SMU set several program records in 2019 under Lashlee.
The Mustangs set the SMU standard in scoring with 544 points, 41.8 PPG, 6,368 total yards, 489.8 yards per game and several more. SMU is averaging 39.1 PPG which ranks ninth nationally. The Mustangs are 13th in total offense averaging 472.5 total yards per game. Lashlee might bring two Miami assistants with him to SMU.
Offensive line coach Garin Justice and wide receivers coach Rob Likens are reportedly strongly being considered to join the SMU staff under Lashlee. Justice and Likens both have experience as offensive coordinators. Justice has also been a Division II head coach. A replacement for Lashlee will depend on Diaz’s job status.
Miami is expected to name a new athletic director in the next week. The new AD will make a decision if Diaz is returning or if the Hurricanes will fire him and search for a new head coach. Any speculation on the replacement for Lashlee will occur after the job status for Diaz is solidified in the next few weeks.