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| Tuesday, January 30 'Canes begin search for permanent replacement Associated Press | |||
| MIAMI -- With Butch Davis heading to the Cleveland Browns,
University of Miami officials appointed Larry Coker, the team's
offensive coordinator, as interim head coach as they began seeking
a permanent replacement.
"That process is fully under way and has been under way for the
last few hours," athletic director Paul Dee said Monday.
Davis, who joined the Hurricanes as head coach in 1995, led them
to a ranking of No. 2 this season.
Dee said the university has not contacted any candidates and
that that the search is being conducted "as confidential as
possible." He said Coker will get "favorable consideration" for
the job.
"I'm ready for this job," Coker said. "I've coached in the
major college level on defense. I've coached a number of teams on
offense, some great offensive teams not only here but at some other
schools. So, I think I'll be taken seriously for the job."
Coker came to Miami in 1995. He had been an assistant coach at
Ohio State. Before that, he spent 10 years as offensive coordinator
at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
"It's not my dream to be in the National Football League,"
Coker said. "I love college football. I love all parts of it. I
love recruiting, I like this group of kids."
Coker said Davis recommended him for the head coaching job.
Center Brett Romberg said the players also lobbied Dee on
Coker's behalf.
After Davis broke the news to the team during a hastily called
morning meeting, the players discussed staying motivated for next
season and pushing Coker to replace Davis.
"He's won a lot of ball games for us," Romberg said. "He's an
excellent play caller and a lot guys respect him."
Coker said one of his priorities will be to contact the crop of
high school players who have given verbal commitments to come to
Miami.
High school signing day is Feb. 7.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will carry on despite the Monday's
announcement, Romberg said.
"We really don't see much of coach Davis in the offseason, so
it's going to be like he's taken a little vacation, and we're just
going to go about what we've been doing every year previously:
working our tails off," Romberg said.
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No denying: Butch Davis officially Browns head coachCurry: Davis seeks challenge The Blitz: Hurricane Butch | ||
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ESPN.com's John Clayton talks about the popularity level of Butch Davis in Miami.