The Miami football program will continue looking for an offensive coordinator after Kendal Briles chose to stay at Arkansas according to Chris Low of ESPN. Miami reportedly offered Briles their offensive coordinator position earlier this week per Brett McMurphy of The Action Network. No current OC candidates are known.
Miami also pursued Toledo head coach Jason Candle earlier this week per Football Scoop, but Candle chose to stay with the Rockets. Candle makes $1.2 million with Toledo and was reportedly offered between $1.6-1.8 million to become the Miami OC. Briles made $1 million with Arkansas in 2021.
Briles was reportedly offered $1.5 million to become the OC with the Miami football program. Between 2016 and 2020 Briles was the OC with five different programs. Briles worked his final season as the OC for his father at Baylor in 2016. From 2017 through 2020 Briles was with FAU, Houston, Florida State and Arkansas.
The 2021 season was the first year Briles returned to a job since his final year at Baylor in 2016. Arkansas had mixed success offensively under Briles in 2021. The Razorbacks were 48th nationally in scoring last season averaging 30.9 points per game. Arkansas was 28th averaging 441.7 total yards per game.
Kendal Briles will remain at @RazorbackFB as offensive coordinator, sources tell ESPN. Briles was a candidate for the @CanesFootball OC job. He’s been with Sam Pittman the last two years at Arkansas, and the Hogs led the SEC in rushing last season.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) January 20, 2022
The success Arkansas had running likely intrigued new Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. Miami had a prolific passing offense under former offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee in 2021. The Hurricanes struggled averaging 127.67 rushing yards per game to finish 97th nationally in 2021.
One name to watch for OC is Miami football legendary signal-caller and current Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey. Buffalo plays at Kansas City in an NFL Divisional Playoff game on Sunday. Miami could pursue Dorsey if the Bills lose Sunday. Multiple NFL teams including the Bills could be interested in Dorsey.
Bills OC Brian Daboll is being interviewed for NFL head coaching jobs. If Daboll leaves, Dorsey would be the favorite to be his replacement. Cristobal could pursue other NFL assistants and potentially unnamed college assistants. Miami has kept the news about potential assistants most quiet until they were hired.
All three coordinator positions, tight ends coach, linebackers and defensive backs coaches are all still open. Cristobal is being meticulous about hiring his staff. Miami has been able to recruit well without a full staff in the six weeks since Cristobal was hired as head coach. That should continue through National Signing Day February 2.