Miami football named winner, expected to improve under Lance Guidry

Brandon Marcello of 247 Sports included the Miami football program as a winner in his article “Coaching Carousel: Winners and losers of 2023.” Miami being included among the winners during the offseason hiring cycle was replacing defensive coordinator Kevin Steele with Lance Guidry from Marshall via Tulane.

Guidry led an elite defense with the Thundering Herd in 2023. Guidry has worked his way up from an FCS graduate assistant to a high school coach, back to FCS as an assistant and eventually Power Five. From 2016 through 2018 Guidry was the head coach at McNeese State where he was a defensive back from 1990–1993.

Guidry has 10 years of experience as a Division I defensive coordinator in addition to the three years as a head coach. Mario Cristobal hiring Guidry as the Miami DC provides him with his first opportunity with a Power Five program. Miami also hired linebackers coach Derek Nicholson from Louisville via Cincinnati last week.

Miami will have the new coaches on defense and three new offensive assistants including coordinator Shannon Dawson for 2023. Steele, LBs coach Charlie Strong, offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis, quarterbacks coach Frank Ponce and running backs coach Kevin Smith all left Miami after the 2022 season.

"“Is it possible for both Alabama to upgrade its staff and Miami also improve by losing its coordinator (Kevin Steele) to the Tide? Yup. Miami couldn’t help but trip over itself on defense last season, allowing five games of 40 points or more, including an embarrassing 45-31 loss at home to Middle Tennessee.The performances harkened back to Steele’s failed tenure at Clemson, and it was obvious near the end of the season this Miami marriage seemed more like a quick fling…Mario Cristobal hired Marshall defensive coordinator Lance Guidry by way of Tulane. Guidry was initially hired away from Marshall by the Green Wave.Miami came calling only a few weeks later and the Group of 5 coordinator made the jump to the big time. Guidry, who also helped lead a top-10 scoring defense in south Florida at FAU, led Marshall to a top-20 finish in 15 defensive categories, including 11 in the top 10, last season.The Thundering Herd was No. 8 in total defense, No. 2 in stop rate, No. 1 in third-down defense and No. 6 in scoring. Wherever Guidry goes, defenses improve.”"

The departures of Steele and Strong allow the Miami defensive coaching staff to get younger. Nicholson is 36. Guidry is 51 but being in his first Power Five coaching job should be hungry. The Miami football program needs a significant improvement on defense in 2023. Guidry has talent defensively to be successful.

Miami returns safeties, All-American Kamren Kinchens and returning starter James Williams plus defensive tackle Leonard Taylor. The Miami football team needs Taylor and Williams who were five star signees in 2021 to improve significantly in 2022 to allow Guidry to guide the defense to its fullest potential.