What I’m Hearing on Miami’s Head Coaching Search - Sunday PM

Stefan Adams

Dec 30, 2018 2 min read

Miami’s search for their next head coach is officially underway. First off, Miami has no monetary obligation to Mark Richt; he did things the right way and completely cut ties with zero severance payments requested. Therefore, I’m told there is more money available to bring in what Blake James said is “the best guy for the job”. A good source tells me that Mario Cristobal has already confirmed his interest in the job with Miami. Another source tells me Manny Diaz reached out this morning just after the news broke to let UM brass know he was interested in the opening. A source inside Hecht tells me there is a segment of the athletic department that is pushing for Diaz and he has at least some internal support.

Blake James did not have a lot for us at the presser and I don’t think he was playing coy. He seemed really blindsided by Richt’s decision this morning and last night the mutual understanding between the two was that changes were necessary on offense, that was it. Richt made this decision late last night/early this morning. As such, a lot more will become clear in the coming days as things develop, and I’ve been told Miami wants this to be a quick search to hit the ground running for the last month of recruiting.

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H
hotshot

Dec 30, 2018

Only makes sense to hire an African-American Head Coach. Best one out there who is offensive-minded is Babers.

Dec 30, 2018

brock said:
We need someone with a offensive mind, brash personality with bravado. Lane Kiffin me..

Thank god you don’t make the decisions. Lane is trash everywhere he’s been. His same size is long and tiresome

Dec 30, 2018

calleochocane said:
Butch it you mean? I’d be fine with that

I'd be estatic with Butch.

T
Thommy30w

Dec 30, 2018

bbcane said:
I they want him bad enough, it could get him more money from them

Good point.

g8rh8rMD

Dec 30, 2018

Meast21 said:
Holy **** that Richt walked away without a buyout. He could have easily negotiated millions (even at a reduced amount $5-15M is totally possible).

Part of me is blown away that he did the "right" thing to put UM in a good financial situation which we should actually all be insanely thankful for actually. Still blown away he chose to walk away versus make a few staff changes

Ironic enough Richt also just saved Blake's *** to a big extent. Blake fcked up big time giving him that extension last year and massive buy-out which could have really screwed us

Whole thing is crazy, just hoping we spend our new found fortune wisely...

He made the choice to save his son from being fired by his father. He surely could have still gotten at least some buyout.

At this point, I don’t care about the particulars. He did the right thing, we are moving on, and I’d prefer to view him through a positive prism.

tcgrad1014

Dec 30, 2018

The irony that Richt leaving with such class and dignity probably saved Blake James' job. Richt may have served our long term interests better if he refused to quit and required the massive buyout. Then James would have to be shown the door.

Squid Bumciorek

Dec 30, 2018

Sorry Diaz, no mulligans. You already quit. Wait a couple years then get back to us

JHallCanes

Dec 30, 2018

brock said:
No to Diaz, too soon. Bring me cristobal or Lane Kiffin over him.

You want to stop losing elite recruits and winning those type of recruitments? Go get cristobal who is a pitbull recruiter and one of the best of the business. You want passion? He definitely has it In coaching and recruiting

I used to be very against Mario but I’ve come around. His recruiting would be fun to watch.

No on Kiffin though man. The guy has had the complete opposite trajectory you are supposed to have as a coach.

CanesFam17

Dec 30, 2018

Zbrod95 said:
Are you trying to convince him or dissuade him? Because you’re not going dissuade him with that tape.

Dissuade.. Diaz would be an awful hire

Cribby

Dec 30, 2018

k9cane said:
Id be good with Cristobal, to be honest. I think he's gotten plenty of seasoning the past few years...

Dude, wtf?!?

Consigliere

Dec 30, 2018

tcgrad1014 said:
The irony that Richt leaving with such class and dignity probably saved Blake James' job. Richt may have served our long term interests better if he refused to quit and required the massive buyout. Then James would have to be shown the door.

I can't believe James is still our AD.

Dwinstitles

Dec 30, 2018

OMG if its Diaz fold the program

FL Cane

Dec 30, 2018

It's going to be, in no specific order, Butch, Babers, or Cristobal. Leach won't get a look because of the PR issues (I know it's a stupid reason but some people in the BOT and in the Admin think this way) and he's also had subpar seasons at WSU and TTU. Campbell doesn't seem like he has any interest, Neal Brown is too young and coaching in the G5, and Manny has no HC experience period.

Canemang

Dec 30, 2018

Fvck no to geriatric Davis

rrose8

Dec 30, 2018

There is no short term solution, so keep the end game in mind. Need someone with passion & solid recruiting history.

Twhizman

Dec 30, 2018

Diaz defense saved our season people here need to quit jumping the gun.this university wi!I make a big mistake not hiring diaz.

Ghostcane

Dec 30, 2018

CanesFam17 said:
Throw on the LSU tape Blake and if u think Diaz is ready for big time

This.

Pentagon Cane

Dec 30, 2018

Ianglopez7 said:
Why are you guys so against Diaz? Just because he coached with richt? There’s no way they would hire and let him do the same thing as richt. They will tell him he needs to hire a legit Oc and staff.

Because he doesn't come with a pedigree. He was a GA at FSU in 1999 then followed Amato to NC State. How'd that work out for Chuck? Bounced around program to program. As a position or coordinator, has he ever been with a program that has at least one its conference?

canecat

Dec 30, 2018

brock said:
No to Diaz, too soon. Bring me cristobal or Lane Kiffin over him.

You want to stop losing elite recruits and winning those type of recruitments? Go get cristobal who is a pitbull recruiter and one of the best of the business. You want passion? He definitely has it In coaching and recruiting

That is exactly how I feel. Diaz I think will be an amazing coach but he needs to prove it .

Jedi Master Cane

Dec 30, 2018

Mario is a hard pass....unfortunately it's going to take him saying no to the job for it NOT to happen. He has a future #1 overall draft pick at QB and STILL lost 4 games this season.

We have an administration that is simply not capable of making a good hire. They will find a way to F up this chance Richt has given us.

Nobody ripped Richt more than I did, but if he really did leave without taking any sort of buyout or severance....then the man must be applauded for not holding this program hostage.