Brian VanGorder is going to get a call. If he doesn't, then Miami athletic director Paul Dee isn't doing his job.
(Insert obvious losing-to-Louisville-by-24 joke here).
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| Brian VanGorder is exactly the type of coach Miami needs -- someone fresh, new and off the radar. (Getty Images) |
It's either that or deciding between hiring a real estate agent or selling by owner. Kidding, kidding.
Coming off the humiliating Louisville defeat, the 'Canes look like they are headed to their third consecutive three-loss season (at least). Suddenly, Dee is on the hook for the losing and for having extended coach Larry Coker at $1.75 million per year.
That's not going to sit well with president Donna Shalala or a portion of Miami fans. Coker is on the hot seat. Dee's isn't so cool either. If the likeable Coker is asked to leave after the season, the irascible Dee might be right behind.
That's the subtext to the current Miami situation. The text should reside in Dee's pocket. It's his job right now to assemble a list of candidates in case he has to make a coaching move.
We're here to help. As a public service, we're providing a not-so-short list.
Start with VanGorder. Not exactly Butch Davis, but someone to consider. He is the first-year coach at I-AA Georgia Southern and deserves a chance to take over the crumbling dynasty.
Who is VanGorder? Young (47), upwardly mobile and accomplished.
A native of Michigan, BVG was head coach at Wayne State at age 33 for three years. He moved steadily up the ladder, catching on with Georgia in '01. He comes highly recommended by Mark Richt, who had him as Georgia's defensive coordinator from 2001-04.
In '03, VanGorder was named the nation's best college assistant. He spent last year as linebackers coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
VanGorder is exactly the type of coach Miami needs right now. Something fresh, new, off the radar. Inexperienced? Sure. In that sense, he is Coker with hair, having never been a Division I head coach. But there is a lot of upside.
