Miami football four potential replacements for offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee

Rob Likens

Elevating Likens from wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator would allow the Miami football program continuity with most of the offensive skill positions players returning.

Likens has four years of experience as a Power Five offensive coordinator with two years each in the position at Arizona State and Kansas. Likens was the offensive coordinator for the Jayhawks in 2015 and 2016 and held the same position with the Sun Devils in 2018 and 2019 before being hired by the Miami football program.

Prior to leaving for Kansas, Likens was on the staff of Sonny Dykes at California in 2013 and 2014. Lashlee is succeeding Dykes at SMU. Lashlee also worked for Dykes for two years with the Mustangs before leaving to join the Miami football staff.

With both being proteges of Dykes, the Miami offense would not likely chance much with Likens as the offensive coordinator. Likens oversaw a significant upgrade in the wide receiver play for Miami this season. Charleston Rambo transferred from Oklahoma and set the Miami single-season reception and receiving yardage record.

In two seasons playing for Likens, Mike Harley improved significantly enough to become the Miami career reception leader. Harley also set the single-game reception record with 13 against Duke in 2021.