Miami football RB coach Tim Harris Jr. leaving to become UCF OC

Mario Cristobal has to hire a new running backs coach for the second consecutive year. Tim Harris Jr. is leaving the Miami football program to become the offensive coordinator at Central Florida. Harris significantly helped Miami improve their rushing offense In his one season with the Hurricanes.

Miami finished 95th nationally in 2022, averaging 128.33 rushing yards per game. Under Harris Jr. and new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, Miami improved to 173.15 rushing yards per game in 2023, which was 45th nationally. Mark Fletcher and Henry Parrish each ran for over 500 yards in 2023.

Parrish led Miami for the second year in a row with 625 rushing yards and topped the Hurricanes with six scores on the ground. Fletcher had 514 yards rushing and five TDs on the ground. Ajay Allen, Fletcher and Parrish return at RB for Miami in 2023. The talent Miami has at RB should attract a quality replacement for Harris Jr.

Harris Jr. is a good recruiter who ranked 221st nationally in 2024 and 49th in the ACC. Harris Jr. is credited with Miami signing four-star RB Jordan Lyle and three-star Chris Wheatley-Humphrey in the 2024 class. Cristobal will expect the replacement for Harris Jr. to be a relentless recruiter.

Expect Cristobal to be methodical in his search for a replacement for Harris Jr. Cristobal is notorious for taking his time and making a thorough analysis before making a decision. Harris Jr. was at UCF as their RB's coach before coming to Miami. Harris Jr. replaced Kevin Smith, who returned to Mississippi.

One name to watch could be Miami offensive Wide receiver analyst Mike Cassano. Cassano was the RB's coach at FIU under Cristobal. Expect Cristobal to keep the hiring process quiet. Surprise names usually emerge when Cristobal searches for a new staff position at Miami. The search for a new RB's coach for Miami will be stealth.