Miami dips into past to bring back well-loved 2001 champ and former assistant as WR coach
The University of Miami football program, led by head coach Mario Cristobal, is dipping into the past again — just in time for spring football.
A source confirmed Wednesday morning to the Miami Herald that the Hurricanes are hiring well-loved 2001 national champion receiver and former UM receivers coach Kevin Beard — the past six years at Toledo — as its new wide receivers coach.
Beard is already back in Miami to go through the hiring process so he can hopefully be on Greentree Field when spring practice begins Saturday. The Herald reported this week that he had interviewed. Canesport reported the hiring early Wednesday.
Beard, 42, the Toledo receivers coach five of the past six seasons, will replace former UM receivers coach Josh Gattis, who also served as offensive coordinator. Gattis was fired by Cristobal after a dismal offensive showing during the 5-7 2022 season.
Beard, who grew up in Broward County and played at Plantation High, competed with some of the Miami greats when he was part of the last UM national title team in 2001. He redshirted at UM in 1999 and finished his playing career in 2003, when he was listed as a 6-2, 173-pound flanker. Beard was third on the team with 409 receiving yards on 25 catches and two touchdowns in 2001. He finished his UM career with more than 900 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
One of Beard’s defining games in Hurricanes history was his brilliant play — seven catches for 164 yards and a touchdown — in UM’s 23-point comeback to beat the Florida Gators 38-33 in September 2003. That was the game in which then-former-Gator-turned-Hurricanes-quarterback Brock Berlin ran around the Orange Bowl doing the Gator chomp.
Beard was hired as UM’s assistant director of operations in 2014, then was named the Miami receivers coach in 2015 to replace Brennan Carroll. But Mark Richt dismissed Beard in January 2016, when Richt was named head coach.
Beard also coached the wide receivers for four years at University School in Davie, where he helped the Suns win the 2012 Class 3A state title.
Last season, the Hurricanes were ranked 86th of 131 FBS teams in total offense, averaging 367.1 yards a game. UM was No. 97 in scoring, averaging 23.6 points a game. And the Hurricanes were 60th in passing offense (239-yard average) after quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who returns in 2023, had a significant shoulder injury the last half of the season — and starting slot receiver Xavier Restrepo was out several games with a foot injury.
Tight end Will Mallory, the 2022 leading pass-catcher with 42 catches for 538 yards and three touchdowns, has departed for the NFL Draft. UM still has No. 2 leading receiver Colbie Young, a 6-5, 215-pound flanker who caught 32 passess for 367 yards and five touchdowns last season. The Canes also have Brashard Smith, who caught 33 passes for 308 yards, as well as Frank Ladson Jr. (27 catches for 298 yards and a touchdown).
This story was originally published March 1, 2023 at 8:56 AM.
