UM football dominoes begin to fall as Lashlee named head coach at SMU. Others might depart
The changes have begun at University of Miami football.
Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was officially announced as the head coach at SMU on Monday afternoon, three days after it was widely reported he was heading to the Mustangs.
Now, the Hurricanes will be looking for a new offensive coordinator when UM coach Manny Diaz’s job situation is already in jeopardy as the administration searches for a new athletic director.
If Diaz remains UM’s coach, he might need to replace other assistants beyond Lashlee.
According to a source inside the UM program, the belief in the coaching staff is that Lashlee will take receivers coach Rob Likens, likely for a role as offensive coordinator, a position he held at four universities, including Arizona State.
However, if Diaz remains, Likens could be promoted to offensive coordinator at UM.
Two offensive quality control coaches also are expected to accompany Lashlee to SMU.
SMU athletics posted a tweet that said “305 to the 214. Mustang Family, welcome HC Rhett Lashlee BACK to the Hilltop! #PonyUpDallas”
Lashlee transformed UM’s offense into a successful, up-tempo spread and helped turn second-year freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke into a star when the young signal-caller was pressed into action after veteran starter D’Eriq King’s season was cut short by injury in September.
Lashlee, at UM for two seasons, was the offensive coordinator at SMU in 2018 and 2019. This is his first head coaching job.
“We talked about it,’’ Van Dyke said Saturday after UM defeated Duke 47-10 in the regular-season finale. “I’d be really happy for Coach Lashlee if he were to take that job. That’d be a good way for him to be a head coach, and he deserves it.
“He’s ready for it, so I’m just happy for him that gets that opportunity.’’
Miami (7-5, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) finished the regular season averaging 449.9 yards a game, 6.1 yards per play and 34.1 points per game — all three categories an improvement on last season and a major improvement on the year before.
“You got a good one, @SMU_Football,’’ the Miami Hurricanes football account tweeted after the news was released. “Wishing you the best of luck in Dallas, @rhettlashlee.”
This story was originally published November 29, 2021 at 12:39 PM.
