ESPN.com is reporting that the University of Miami has hired defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to replace the recently fired Larry Coker. Shannon has been the Hurricanes defensive coordinator since 2001.
Is this a good move for Miami? I don’t know. Can Shannon keep his players from shooting people and stomping on opponent’s heads during games? I know he can coach a hell of a defense. Under Shannon this past season, the Hurricanes ranked fifth in the nation in total defense and third overall against the run. But that’s not what will save a program that has been in turmoil for the better part of a decade.
Coker made a little ground in getting his player’s graduation rates up and trying to run a disciplined program. Coker won a ton of games too (59 to be exact), but also was the head coach of a team that was involved in one of the biggest melees in college football history. Coker was already a winner. Shannon needs to be much more than that for him to be deemed “successful” by the time he looks back on his career at Miami.
Good luck Randy Shannon, you’ll need to have much more than just a dominant defense to turn this sinking ship around.
