Miami football assistant coaches, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal were named by On3 as assistants deserving strong head coach consideration. Gattis was named in the “On3 coach survey: 25 assistants deserving strong head coach consideration.”
Gattis won the Broyles Award as the best assistant coach in college football in 2021 as the offensive coordinator at Michigan. After not feeling appreciated in Ann Arbor, Gattis decided to move on and accept the offensive coordinator position on the new Miami football staff under Mario Cristobal.
The list was limited to coaches under 55 years old and who have not been an FBS head coach. Gattis has four years of experience as an offensive coordinator at Alabama and Michigan. Gattis called plays the last three seasons for the Wolverines. Addae has been a defensive backs and running backs coach since 2011.
Mirabal began his college coaching career in 2007 at FIU under Cristobal. Neither Addae nor Mirabal have been a coordinator during their coaching careers. Gattis appears to be on a similar career track as Rhett Lashlee who he succeeded as the Miami OC. Lashlee was at Miami for two years before SMU hired him as head coach.
"Miami offensive coordinator Josh GattisRecent jobs: Miami (2022-present), Michigan OC (2019-21), Alabama co-OC/wide receivers coach (2018), Penn State wide receivers coach (2014-17)+ Received interest for multiple head-coaching jobs this past coaching cycle, including as a top candidate for Virginia’s opening.+ Won the Broyles Award last year.+ Was part of Michigan’s turnaround from 2-4 in 2020 to 12-2, a Big Ten championship and a College Football Playoff berth last season.+ Gattis’ Wolverines offense improved from fifth in the Big Ten in scoring in 2020 (28.3 points per game) to second last season (35.8)."
Gattis has the challenge of improving the Miami running game in 2022. Miami was 97th nationally averaging 127.67 rushing yards per game in 2021. Michigan was 15th averaging 214.36 rushing yards per game. Gattis will strive for a more balanced offense than the Miami football team has had in recent years.
Cristobal has been praised for the staff he has hired. Addae was the second-ranked recruiter in the country during the 2022 cycle for Georgia. Mirabal has spent the majority of his career as a Cristobal assistant except for four seasons at Marshall. Quarterbacks coach Frank Ponce is another Miami rising assistant coach.
Miami Co-defensive coordinators Kevin Steele and Charlie Strong are former FBS head coaches. Steele and Strong are nearing the end of their careers and far less likely to receive interest as head coaches. The additions of Steele and Strong to the Miami staff will allow them to mentor the younger Miami assistant coaches.