Miami is expected to hire former Georgia head coach Mark Richt as its head coach, a source told SI’s Thayer Evans. Miami will introduce its new coach on Friday; Richt has reached an agreement to coach the Hurricanes.
Advertisement
Saban said he couldn’t confirm those reports when he spoke with the media on Wednesday evening, but he did address the issue with the team.
“I’m looking for a name that will bring back people to the stadium”, the UM trustee said. He’s worked really hard to do a great job with our defense for nine years now.
During a farewell press conference on Monday, Richt implied that he was not done coaching and would pursue other jobs.
That, current and future coaches, is how you handle leaving a job where young men you’ve recruited are involved. At Miami, it is a similar story, as the Hurricanes have still yet to appear in an ACC Championship game, and the Hurricanes have not been to a BCS bowl or College Football Playoff since the 2004 Orange Bowl (16-14 win over Florida State).
Smart is considered a healing choice for the Bulldogs.
This season, the Bulldogs went 9-3 and had four straight wins to close the season, but that wasn’t enough to convince Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity to keep Richt in Athens.
Smart, 39, has a background that should be appealing to Georgia fans.
Barring a last-minute snag in negotiations, Alabama’s Kirby Smart will become Georgia’s new football coach.
Miami has had some of the remaining members of former coach Al Golden’s staff on the road recruiting this week, and some were at the home of top quarterback recruit Jack Allison when they were informed of Richt’s decision to move forward with Miami.
Smart was hired by Alabama in 2007 and has been defensive coordinator since 2008.
Nov 28, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jordan Jenkins (59) celebrates while waving the Georgia flag after their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Advertisement
“I think he’ll do good”, senior linebacker Reggie Ragland said on Monday. “I don’t have any question about that at all”. He began his career as a graduate assistant (1985-88). “You couldn’t ask for anything more out of a head coach”.
