New Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Kevin Steele as reported by Matt Zenitz of On3 brings over 40 years of experience as a college coach. Steele has been a Power Five defensive coordinator in all but two seasons since 2007. Most recently Steele was the interim head coach for 10 days at Tennessee in January 2021.
Prior to that Steele was the DC and interim head coach at Auburn in 2020. Steele coached the Tigers in a Citrus Bowl loss to Northwestern after Gus Malzahn was fired. Auburn finished 38th allowing 24.7 points per game and 63rd with opponents averaging 406 yards per game. Most of Steele’s career has been in the Southeast.
Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and Steele were on the Alabama staff together in 2013 and 2014. Cristobal was the offensive line, assistant head coach and Alabama recruiting coordinator from 2013-16. Steele was the director of player personnel in 2013 and linebackers coach in 2014.
Miami hired Steele after he reportedly was going to be named the DC at Maryland. Steele began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater Tennessee in 1980 and 1981. In more than 40 years of coaching, Steele has also been on staffs at Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska and Oklahoma State.
The expectation is that Kevin Steele will be hired as Miami’s defensive coordinator, per sources https://t.co/jxYaWsBzym
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 1, 2022
Steele also has NFL experience as the linebackers coach with the Carolina Panthers from 1995 through 1998 and a collegiate head coach at Baylor from 1999 through 2002. Hiring Steele could have a huge impact on the 2022 Miami signing class. Five-star defensive end Shemar Stewart wants a DC in place to sign with the Hurricanes.
With Steele in place, Miami will find out tomorrow if Stewart will sign with them. Texas A&M is the projected leader to sign Stewart with Georgia also being considered. Adding Stewart would be huge for Miami and Steele. Steele provides Miami with 11 years experience as DC and four as a head coach.