New Miami Hurricanes official DC Kevin Steele led consistently strong defenses

The Miami Hurricanes announced the official hiring of defensive coordinator Kevin Steele on Wednesday. Head coach Mario Cristobal alluded to Steele being hired on National Signing Day last Wednesday. In eight of the 11 seasons Steele has been a DC, his defenses have finished in the top 30 per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Steele brings 38 years of experience to the Miami football program including 13 years in the SEC and 10 there as a DC. In 2017 Steele was a finalist for the Broyles Award as the best assistant coach in college football. Steele was a semifinalist for the award in 2019. Cristobal and Steele worked together at Alabama.

In his most recent season as a DC, Steele led an Auburn defense that allowed 24.7 points per game to finish 38th nationally. According to Jackson, only once in 11 years as a DC has a Steele defend finished in the bottom half of FBS in points allowed. Jackson also reported that Auburn was elite in tackling.

Pro Football Focus graded Auburn as finishing in the top five in tackling three times with Steele as the DC. Auburn finished 60th in total defense in the last season Steele was on the Plains under Gus Malzahn. When Malzahn was fired at the end of the regular season, Steele was the interim coach in the Citrus Bowl.

Auburn was a much better 37th allowing 5.27 yards per play in 2020. The Tigers’ numbers were partially up in 2020 due to 10 SEC games. Steele took the 2021 season off. Auburn had stellar defenses in five years under Steele. Throughout his career, at multiple stops, Steele has been the primary recruiter for blue-chip signees.

Steele comes from an exceptional coaching tree. Prior to becoming a coach, Steele played for Johnny Majors and then coached under him at Tennessee. Other legends Steele worked for include Dom Capers with the Carolina Panthers, Bobby Bowden and Nick Saban. The Miami Hurricanes are getting an experienced and proven DC.