Pete Thamel of ESPN is reporting that the Miami football program is hiring veteran NFL special teams coach Marwan Maalouf. Maloof began his NFL coaching career as a special teams quality control coach with the Cleveland Browns from 2005 to 2006.
After Cleveland, Maloof was Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to 2011 as the assistant special teams coach. Maloof got his first job as special teams coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. Maloof was the Dolphins’ assistant special teams coach from 2013 through 2018.
Following his stint with the Dolphins, Maloof was the Minnesota Vikings special teams coordinator from 2019 through 2020. Maloof has not coached in college since 2003 with Rutgers where he was the graduate assistant offensive line coach for two years.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Maloof were on the staff at Rutgers together for two seasons. Cristobal was the offensive tackle and tight ends coach at Rutgers in 2001 and 2002 and the Scarlet Knights offensive line coach in 2003. Marwan began his coaching career at Baldwin Wallace as the assistant OL coach in 2000.
Sources: University of Miami is expected to add veteran NFL special teams coach Marwan Maalouf to the staff. He’s coached special teams in the NFL for more than 15 years.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 6, 2022
From Division III Baldwin-Wallace Marwan moved on to FCS Fordham as the assistant OL coach in 2001 before being hired by Rutgers. Marwan was able to quickly move up the coaching ranks to the NFL. Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U reported that Marwan will not be an onfield assistant coach for the Miami football program.
It is not clear if Marwan will be considered the special teams coordinator in an off-field position. That would be an unusual move. If Marwan is hired for more of an analyst role, the Miami football program would still have a position open for an on-field assistant coach. Marwan had mixed success as NFL special teams coordinator.
Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer who was fired following the 2021 season let the contract of Maloof expire following 2020. NFL.Com reported the Vikings had too many missed field goals, struggled punting and Minnesota opponents had advantages in kickoff and punt return differential during the 2020 season.
Miami returns Andres Borregales as their kicker and 2020 second-team All-American Lou Hedley as the punter in 2022. Miami had a huge disparity in their kick and punt return coverage in 2021. The Hurricanes were 121st nationally in 2021 allowing opponents an average of 25.88 yards per kick return.
After setting the NCAA record for net punting in 2020, Miami finished 10th nationally in 2021 averaged 43.1 yards this season. If Maloof is the special teams coordinator, he will have to improve the kick coverage, kickoff and punt returns for Miami in 2021. Maloof also seems to have to improve the production he coaches.