Miami Hurricanes OC Josh Gattis gets big surprise after last practice before spring game
University of Miami offensive coordinator Josh Gattis has the distinction of having been the offensive coordinator at one UM — that would be the University of Michigan — and heading straight to another UM— (Hello, Hurricanes) to take the same position.
On Thursday, the final day of Miami’s practice heading into Saturday’s spring game, Gattis got a fun, uplifting surprise when folks with the Broyles Award flew in and greeted him with the prestigious trophy he earned this past season at Michigan as the nation’s top assistant coach in college football.
Broyles Award chairman Jeff Hildebrand interrupted Gattis in the middle of his first statement to reporters and presented him with the 75-pound trophy.
“We don’t mean to interrupt but we’re here on behalf of the Broyles Award,’’ Hildebrand said. “Coach Josh Gattis is our winner in 2021. We wanted to present him with his trophy and tell the University of Miami, the players, the fans, not only do you have a great coach, you have a great person, a great role model for the players and for the students and the community of Miami.’’
“That’s awesome,’’ a buoyant Gattis said. “It’s quite the surprise. It’s truly an honor, one I really hold in the highest regard. Obviously as an assistant coach this is always a dream for any coach to be honored with the Broyles Award…
“I couldn’t be more honored to represent you all and I will hold that in the highest regard every day as a coach. It has put a new challenge and a new responsibility on me and I embrace it and I look forward to it. It puts the highlight to the end of spring right there.”
After the impromptu ceremony and the Broyles reps had stepped away, Gattis told reporters, laughing: “So, was this just made up?”
Gattis spent the previous three seasons at Michigan and helped lead the Wolverines this past season to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff at the Capital One Orange Bowl, where they lost to eventual national champion Georgia.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be here,’’ Gattis said when he took the Miami job. “I grew up in ACC land, and I’ve always had the utmost respect for this program. When you look at the history, the tradition and the legacy of this place, Miami is one of the most storied programs in all of college football. When the opportunity came up to be a part of this program, it was one that I just couldn’t turn down.
“We’ve got an unbelievable staff and I’m really, really excited about Coach Cristobal’s vision.”
Said Cristobal on Thursday: “Congratulations to coach Gattis again for being presented the Broyles Award.
“Certainly, that’s the highest honor you can have as an assistant coach, and he’s certainly been a game-changer for us since his arrival, from a lot of different standpoints. From a cultural standpoint, a schematic standpoint, his credibility, his ability to teach and motivate.
“His scheme really fits the footprint of our recruiting area. It really does. Really, congrats. Super happy for him and really excited for what’s to come.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2022 at 1:58 PM.
