Continuity is key for ’Canes long-term vision
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When took the Miami job last season, he wasn’t concerned with changing the culture surrounding the program. Instead, he was focused on getting everyone up to speed on how the Hurricanes were going to go about doing business.
“First thing I had to do was hire really good coaches, guys that were confident and guys that were going to do it the way I wanted it done. That's coaching them and loving them, but doing everything in a first-class manner,” Richt said Friday.
That said, the biggest challenge facing Miami’s long-term success could come in the form of turnover.
Defensive coordinator who’s been a critical part of the Hurricanes turnaround, has been mentioned in connection with several head coaching openings. Diaz brushed off those coaching rumors this week but it could only be a matter of time before the talented coordinator earns his first head coaching job.
If you need a reminder of the importance of continuity on a coaching staff, look no further than Clemson and The Tigers are playing in their third ACC Championship and are coming off back-toback national championship appearances.
“For the most part Dabo has kept his staff together, too. I think that's important,” Richt added. Miami athletics director
left any discussions of the future of members of the coaching staff up to Richt, but he reiterated that he’ll do whatever is best for the program.
“I will do whatever Mark feels we need to do to put our program in the best position to compete for ACC and national championships,” he said. “Those are conversations that I have with him and I’ll believe … whatever he wants to do to support his needs.”
Richt was asked again about the impact of Miami’s now famous turnover chain and the Hurricanes coach reiterated that if his team was 5-5 instead of 10-1, people wouldn’t be embracing so much: “people would be making fun of the thing,” he said.
But that hasn’t been the case with the oversized gold chain, which has taken on a life of its own, drawing a tremendous reaction from the Miami faithful.
“They're cheering so hard, sometimes they're cheering for the turnover chain. A couple times they're cheering for the turnover chain, we're on offense, we can't hear what's going on,” Richt said, drawing a laugh. “The thing about the turnover chain is that it is Miami. It's got the big U, all the gems, and sparkles, all that kind of thing. That's kind of how we roll down there in Miami.”