Charlie Strong leaving Miami football without defensive coordinator interview
Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Charlie Strong told Chris Low of ESPN that he decided to leave the Miami football program after the Hurricanes hired Lance Guidry to be the new defensive coordinator. Gaby Urrutia of Inside the U was the first to report on Thursday morning that Strong was not returning.
Low reported that Strong learned of the hiring of Guidry on Tuesday and was never interviewed to become the Miami defensive coordinator after sharing the position with Kevin Steele who left for Alabama on Sunday night. Strong told Steele on Wednesday he would not be returning to the Miami football program in 2023.
The decision by Cristobal to hire Guidry will provide the new Miami DC opportunity to employ his own coach or at the very least have a strong input into a new hire. Miami was the fourth job in as many years for Charlie Strong. Prior to Miami, Strong was at South Florida, Alabama and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Strong was the head coach at South Florida from 2017 through 2019, a defensive analyst at Alabama and the assistant head coach and linebackers coach with Jacksonville under Urban Meyer. There have been some reports that Meyer could be headed to Alabama to join his Co-DC Steele.
The Miami staff has a chance to get younger with the hiring of 51-year-old Guidry. Steele is 64 years old and Strong 62. Miami has multiple options on who could replace Strong. The Hurricanes have the potential of promoting from within or bringing in someone from outside the program as they did with Guidry.
With Lance Guidry's hiring as @CanesFootball DC, co-coordinator Charlie Strong told ESPN he will not return: "Coach Cristobal and the program made a decision to go in a different direction. It's time for me to go in a different direction." Strong was not interviewed for the job.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 9, 2023
Coordinators usually serve dual roles as position coaches in college. Guidry has spent his entire career as a defensive backs coach. Jahmile Addae is currently the Miami defensive backs coach. There has been some speculation that Addae could be the next Miami assistant coach to move on. Guidry could then coach defensive backs.
Next. Miami staff attrition continues with Strong departure. dark
Defensive analyst Jason Taylor has been one name mentioned as a replacement for Strong. As a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman, Taylor has exceptional experience but has not coached LBs at the college level. Cristobal frequently makes hires that go undetected by the media. That could likely continue.