Miami football OC Shannon Dawson running game history

The Miami football program will have an almost new coaching staff offensively in 2023. Mario Cristobal hired Shannon Dawson as the offensive coordinator last week and Tim Harris Jr. was reported as the new running backs coach on Tuesday night. The Miami football program is still looking for a new wide receivers coach.

Miami had an anemic running game in 2022 finishing 95th nationally averaging 128.33 yards per game. Cristobal hired Dawson to oversee a change in the offensive system run by Josh Gattis in 2022. Dawson was the passing game coordinator in the last three seasons with Houston. Dawson will be the sole Miami offensive coordinator.

Houston was 25th nationally in total offense in 2022 averaging 456.0 yards per game. Houston finished 76th averaging 142.0 rushing yards per game in 2022. The Cougars were 50th averaging 4.59 yards per carry. Dawson has been an OC for most of the last 12 years. Dawson is a disciple of the Air Raid offensive system.

Former Kentucky head coach Hal Mumme initially made the Air Raid famous and by late Mississippi State, Washington State and Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach provided the innovative offense with more prominence  Dawson has shown a commitment to the run in past jobs.

Dawson was the West Virginia Co-OC and WR coach in 2012. In 2013 and 2014 Dawson was the West Virginia OC and QB coach. West Virginia was 54th nationally in 2012 averaging 170.92 rushing yards per game. After a dip in 2013, West Virginia improved to 182.77 rushing YPG in 2013 which was 45th nationally.

Dawson moved on to Kentucky in 2015 as OC. The Wildcats were not a good fit for Dawson. Kentucky was 79th nationally averaging 162.67 rushing yards per game in 2015. After being dismissed from Kentucky Dawson was hired as the OC and WR coach at Southern Mississippi.

Southern Mississippi was 62nd nationally averaging 174.54 rushing YPG in 2016. The Golden Eagles improved to 184.54 rushing YPG and 41st in 2017 before falling to an anemic 112.64 rushing YPG and 121st nationally in 2018. Houston hired Dawson as tight ends coach ahead of the 2019 season.

After one season as TEs coach Dawson was elevated to OC and QBs coach at Houston in 2020 a position, he remained in through 2022. The Houston running game finished between 76th and 85th nationally under Dawson as OC. Expect those numbers to improve in a Miami offense where Cristobal emphasizes the line of scrimmage.

Houston averaged 30.9 rushing attempts per game in 2022 to 34.5 for Miami. Cristobal and Dawson will have just over two weeks from the time of his hiring to spring practice beginning on March 4 to prepare the new offense. This is the third time in the last four springs the Miami football program has a new OC.

Henry Parrish is the only returning running back that received significant carries in 2022. Don Chaney Jr. and Tre’Vonte Citizen return from missing most and all of the 2022 season. Miami signed four-star RBs Mark Fletcher and Chris Johnson in the 2023 class. The learning curve at RB will be significant for Miami in 2023.