Thursday November 19: Joaquin Gonzalez, a former Hurricane player in the early 2000’s, noted today that he “just finished interview with search firm…consensus across all their interviews has been Butch [Jones]/Mario [Cristobal] are leading,” followed by Rob Chudzinski and Greg Schiano.
Tuesday November 17:Barry Jackson who writes for the Miami Herald just noted that per Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports, Charlie Strong is indeed interested in the Miami job.
Monday November 16:Following the U’s announcement of their search committee, Greg Cote of the Miami Herald writesthat Mario Cristobal might well be the favorite.
Monday November 16: AD Blake James announced Monday the U has retained Korn Ferry to assist with the search. Additionally, UM board of trustees members Hilarie Bass, David Epstein and Steve Saiontz, deputy ADJennifer Strawley and former players Jonathan Vilma and Vinny Testaverde will serve as a search advisory committee.
Sunday November 15: Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported today that Butch Davis "remains simply a fallback option, if several more appealing options don't materialize" per an associate of Miami AD Blake James.
Wednesday November 11:The Miami Herald reports today that Butch Davis "hasn't been written off, he's among people given initial consideration". The Herald also adds that UM people "are under the impression that Charlie Strong and Tommy Tuberville have interest in the job." The Herald also states that no conversations have taken place between reps of UM and Mario Cristobal "according to a coaching friend of Cristobal." [Note, on that point the Herald is incorrect, or perhaps their source is simply uninformed.] The Herald adds that Mike Shula "has conveyed to friends that he wants to remain in the NFL and won't pursue the UM job", per an associate.
Tuesday November 10: Sources tell FootballScoop that Alabama offensive line coach, former FIU head coach, and former Miami player Mario Cristobal is at "the top of list" for the Canes, and that discussions have taken place from representatives on each side.
Monday November 9: A survey of Miami area high school coaches in the area was done by 247, and Mario Cristobal has near-unanimous support.
Jimmy Johnson tells the Miami Herald that he and athletic director Blake James have communicated and Blake plans to use Jimmy as a sounding board during the search. Jimmy adds that he does not feel the candidates need to have UM ties noting, "You want the best candidate. There are some outstanding individuals who will be interested in this job. I wouldn't want any restriction."
Wednesday October 28: Some in the media had been writing that this was the time for Mark Richt to look to move on...and likely back to the U. No, no, my friends.
James Franklin heard that Dennis Dodd of CBS suggested he was a candidate at Miami; and James Franklin was not happy about that. Addressing this today, Franklin said, "I don't like it. I think it causes a distraction for our team. I think it's a distraction for Penn State, and I have no idea where it comes from. My family has sacrificed, I've worked my ass off to be here and this is where I want to be. Stuff like that I guess some people can look at it as a compliment. I don't... not going to address it anymore, this is where I want to be."
Tuesday Oct 27: Just gonna leave this here:
Apparently there was a report out of Miami yesterday that representatives from The U had already reached out to Tom Herman. Josephn Duarte who covers UH relays that this is nonsense.
Settle down a bit Miami...a good ways to go here.
Monday afternoon Ed Reed told Rich Eisen that he would definitely entertain the idea of becoming the head coach of the U should that opportunity present itself. Yes, friends, this is going to be one fun search.
The Scoop's perspective: Its too early to tell who has a legitimate shot at the job; but its hard to imagine that Mario Cristobal doesn't get a great look at it. Miami isn't a learn as you go type of job. The U needs a leader. We suspect that the next head coach will be a current or former head coach with significant ties to the area. The next head coach needs not only to recruit locally; but has to understand the local "politics". The U doesn't have unlimited financial resources; but if the next head coach can get things rolling, the kindle is ready to burn. Strike a match and bring good times back to the U!
Monday, everyone had a list of the top candidates for the job. Here's a look at some of what is being thrown around:
From the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson:
Mario Cristobal, Greg Schiano & Rob Chudzinski "will be discussed and could emerge as serious candidates". Butch Davis is interested; but Jackson largely dismisses him as a real candidate. Jackson lists the following as other potential candidates: Tom Herman, Mike Shula (paired with Ken Dorsey), Rich Rod, Justin Fuente. Jackson describes Dan Mullen and Gary Patterson as pie-in-the-sky and considers those long shots. In an attempt to cover the universe, Jackson also mentions Doc Holliday, Chuck Pagano, Mark Stoops and Mark Richt as those with some logical tie or who have visited the area in the past.
From CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd:
Schiano, Cristobal, Chudzinski, Butch Davis, Fuente, Doug Meacham, James Franklin, Rich Rod, Matt Wells, Scott Frost & Mark Stoops.
From Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman:
Cristobal, Chud, Dana Holgorsen, Schiano, Doc Holliday, Winston Moss, Butch Davis, Rich Rod, Jeff Brohm, Tom Herman, Fuente, Michigan receivers coach (former UM OC) Jedd Fisch.
USA Today's Dan Wolken:
Schiano, Rich Rod, Tommy Tuberville, Larry Fedora, Doc Holliday, Cristobal, Frank Wilson, Tom Herman, Fuente, Richt & ... Lane Kiffin ("They wouldn't. Would they?"
Sunday October 25th, the end of the Al Golden era was announced.
Miami's staff:
HC - Al Golden* (terminated October 25th)
OC - James Coley
OL - Art Kehoe
RB - Tim Harris
TE - Larry Scott* (Note: Scott will serve as interim head coach)
WR - Kevin Beard
DC - Mark D'Onofrio
LB - Hurlie Brown
DL - Randy Melvin
DB - Paul Williams
OLB - Kareem Brown
DQC - Matthew Gazzillo
OQC - Brandon Lumish
STQC - Robert Wright
Off GA - Jake Flaherty
Off GA - Cole Pemberton
Def GA - Mike Zuckerman
DFO - Don Corzine
Asst DFO - Josh Darrow
DPP - Eric Josephs
DPD - Joel Rodriguez
Dir of recruiting - Jorge Baez
Strength - Andreu Swasey
As always, we'll keep you posted on The Scoop as news breaks.