UM To Announce 24th Hurricanes Head Football Coach Friday

Welcome home, Mark Richt, and welcome back to relevancy, the University of Miami. Richt’s last collegiate season was 1982, one year before Howard Schnellenberger led Miami to the first of what became five national titles in a 19-season span.

It’s now his job – or, technically, soon will be his job – to get the Hurricanes back to that elite level. Richt went 145-51 in 15 seasons at Georgia.

I can name the current college football coaches who I consider better than Richt on a few fingers. Miami remains on NCAA probation, and will likely have to limit itself to 81 or 82 scholarships next season instead of the maximum allotment of 85.

It is unclear if Richt will coach the Bulldogs in their bowl game. Hurricanes’ fans have been very outspoken in recent years of their disappointment in the program, as airplanes were seen flying over Miami football practices and games calling for Golden’s to be fired before the coach’s dismissal in October.

Mark Richt coached under Bobby Bowden for 11 seasons at Florida State so if anyone is qualified to comment on Richt and his coaching acumen, it’s the legendary former head coach of the Seminoles.

Mark Richt said at his farewell presser at Georgia that he would listen to any offer to coach again next year, and one came from his alma mater.

While the hiring was newsworthy from a hype standpoint, Shannon had no head coaching experience, and his Hurricanes would win more than seven games just once in his four years in Coral Gables.

MICHIGAN ASSISTANT TAKES OVER: Maryland has hired Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin on Wednesday to be its head coach, taking a key assistant away from its Big Ten East rivals.

Miami has a solid nucleus of young talent, beginning with sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya, who is already fifth on the program’s all-time passing list.

Wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon is in the interim coach through the bowl game.

Critics will say he never won a national title or didn’t win big, but look at the overall resume.

“We need to finish this strong for coach Scott”, Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton said Wednesday.

McGarity fired Richt on Sunday but allowed him to coach in a bowl.

Richt left Georgia less than a week ago after the two sides mutually agreed to part ways.

It seems like a real coup for The U, which had been interviewing former coaches and assistants like Butch Davis, Greg Schiano and Mario Cristobal.

One high-ranking UM trustee not involved with the search heralded Richt, 55, as a major boost for the Hurricanes.