Mike Rumph, two others hired as part of new Miami Hurricanes coaching staff under Mark Richt

Mike Rumph was part of the last national championship team at the University of Miami.

Now he’s headed back to his alma mater to try and help it win another one.

Rumph, one of three Miami hires announced Monday by the Hurricanes, spent the past three years as the football coach at Plantation American Heritage and will coach cornerbacks at UM under new coach Mark Richt.

Miami also announced the hiring of safeties coach Ephraim Banda, who coached this past season with recently announced UM defensive coordinator Manny Diaz at Mississippi State; and former Virginia Tech offensive line coach Stacy Searels, whose hiring was reported Sunday by the Miami Herald.

Additionally, Tennessee announced that former UM tight ends coach Larry Scott, who served as Miami interim coach after Al Golden was fired on Oct. 25, has joined the Vols’ staff as the new tight ends coach.

And in more UM-related coaching news, former Hurricanes offensive coordinator James Coley was announced as the new receivers coach at Georgia — the school that fired Richt after 15 seasons.

American Heritage athletic director Karen Stearns confirmed that Rumph met with his team Monday morning to let them know he would be leaving. Rumph did not return phone calls Monday to the Miami Herald.

“Mike called me [Sunday] night and let me know he was leaving,” Stearns said. “It was an emotional meeting with the kids and, obviously, we’re sad to lose him, but we’re thrilled for him. It’s very exciting for him, for UM and for all of us. It’s a great move.”

Rumph starred at UM, where he had six interceptions and finished his college career on UM’s star-studded 2001 national championship team.

Rumph, 36, played six seasons in the NFL and had stints with the 49ers, who drafted him in the first round in 2002, and later the Redskins and Rams.

Not long after retiring following the 2007 season, Rumph went into coaching and became an assistant at Miramar Everglades in 2010 and later at American Heritage. In 2013, he replaced former Dolphin Jeff Dellenbach as the school’s coach and guided the Patriots to back-to-back state championships and a regional semifinal appearance this past season. During that time, American Heritage went 35-6.

Rumph replaces UM defensive backs coach Paul Williams, who was hired at the University of Illinois.

Williams spent the past five seasons coaching at UM originally under former coach Al Golden.

Stearns said American Heritage has begun its search for a new coach.

Banda spent 2015 as an MSU defensive quality control coach. According to the MSU athletics website, Banda assisted Diaz and worked exclusively with the Bulldogs defensive backs. Mississippi State led the nation in fewest pass plays of 20-plus yards allowed in 2015, allowing only 24 such plays. Despite several key injuries to seniors, MSU said, the secondary ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference in passes defended with 63.

Prior to arriving in Starkville, Banda spent three seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Texas, where Diaz served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2011 to 2013.

Searels, in addition to last season at Virginia Tech, has coached the offensive line at Texas, Georgia and LSU — coaching with Richt at Georgia from 2007 to 2010. He was an All-American lineman at Auburn.

SCOTT LEAVES

One coach the Miami players wanted to see remain on staff was Scott, who opted instead for the Volunteers. Scott brought the Hurricanes through a tumultuous period after UM suffered its worst loss in history to Clemson, the nation’s No. 1 team that is about to play Alabama for the national title. Scott led the Canes to four wins in their last six games.

Coley, who was at UM for three seasons, recruited and developed quarterback Brad Kaaya, as well as recruiting incoming quarterback Jack Allison.

“Best of luck to Coach Coley,’’ Kaaya tweeted. “The chance he took by offering me a scholarship changed my life and for that, my family and I are thankful.”

▪ Sophomore wide receiver Tyre Brady is leaving UM.

“I appreciate everything the University of Miami has done for my family and I,” said Brady, who was suspended multiple times this season for violating team rules. “I look forward to a fresh start.”

Brady, a graduate of South Dade High and member of the school’s 2013 state championship team, started three games this past season and appeared in eight, finishing with 112 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Not long after Brady’s news was released, South Dade senior running back Jawon Hamilton tweeted that he was decommitting from UM. Hamilton ran for 1,259 yards and 16 touchdowns on 131 carries this past season at South Dade.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Mike Rumph, two others hired as part of new Miami Hurricanes coaching staff under Mark Richt."