UM hires Alabama QB coach Enos as offensive coordinator
The Miami Hurricanes have their new offensive coordinator, and judging by a tweet that coach Manny Diaz posted on Twitter late Friday morning — Yasiel Puig slamming a home run — it’s a home-run hire.
The University of Miami announced early Friday afternoon that Alabama quarterbacks coach/associate head coach Dan Enos, 50, is the man who will take over as the Hurricanes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Diaz said more than once that Enos, sought after by other major programs, was his top choice from the start.
Enos not only was expected to be promoted by Nick Saban as No. 2 Alabama’s new offensive coordinator, he very well could bring transferring Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts with him. Two night ago, Hurts followed Diaz and two UM players on Twitter.
Hurts will visit the UM campus as early as Sunday, CaneSport.com reported Friday. Diaz reiterated in a teleconference after the announcement, without mentioning Hurts, that Miami is “exploring every option that’s out there at every level.”
Diaz stressed that his current quarterbacks “have a clean slate” and that he is looking forward to them competing for the job.
“I’m excited about the impact this can make in the quarterback room,” Diaz said of Enos’ hire. “I’m excited about what this can do with the guys we have on our campus. I think Dan’s got an outstanding reputation as a great developer of quarterbacks, and certainly of
course the work that he did this past year at the University of Alabama with their guys and the way that they played was quite remarkable.
“The greatest QB passer rating in college football history: That’s quite an accomplishment. So, getting the guys on our campus to maximize their potential still overcomes anything scheme-wise.”
Diaz noted that Enos “is one of the most creative playcallers in all of college football,” but wouldn’t specify the style of offense Miami would run, saying it would fit the existing personnel. He did, however, say, “I’m sure there will be things that we’ll present differently, whether it’s formationally, or presnap schemes that may be harder for the naked eye to detect.”
Added Diaz: “He was highly sought out by other schools in the Southeastern Conference that he turned down to come to the University of Miami and, like I said, he meets the requirements of what we felt like our guys needed to have the greatest chance for success on offense.”
Diaz said he expects UM to announce one or two more offensive coaching hires Saturday, with the rest soon to follow. Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant offensive line coach Butch Barry is reportedly in line to take over as Miami’s offensive line coach, according to Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman.
Last season, Enos’ lone campaign with the Crimson Tide, Heisman Trophy runner-up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a spectacular showing, passing for 3,966 yards with 43 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He completed 69 percent of his passes. Under the tutelage of Enos, Tagovailoa set Alabama’s single-season passing yards and passing touchdowns records.
Here’s something else Hurricanes fans should love: Alabama led the nation in passing efficiency and was second in yards per play at 7.8.
Miami, which had one of the nation’s best defenses, ranked No. 104 in total offense of 129 FBS teams in 2018 — 112th in passing and 45th in rushing.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join a program as rich in tradition as the University of Miami,” Enos said in UM’s release. “Coach Diaz has a clear vision for this program as we move forward, and it’s an honor to help build the Hurricanes in his image. This was an opportunity I felt I couldn’t pass up.
“I also want to express my sincere appreciation to Nick Saban and the Alabama program for giving me the opportunity to coach there this past season. I learned so much during my time there, and I will always be grateful.”
Enos was a previous head coach and has years of playcalling experience.
A former quarterback at Michigan State (1987-90), Enos has more than two decades of experience coaching skill-position players. Prior to his one-year stint in Tuscaloosa, Enos spent three seasons (2015-17) as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Arkansas, where his offenses set school records, and five years (2010-14) as the head coach at Central Michigan, where he led the Chippewas to two bowl games and helped offensive tackle Eric Fisher become the first Mid-American Conference player to ever be selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL Draft.
Enos also served a short stint as a wide receivers coach at Michigan in 2018 before leaving for Alabama.
Enos posted a 26-36 record at Central Michigan, leading the Chippewas to at least six wins in each of his final three seasons. CMU’s win over Western Kentucky in the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was the Chippewas third bowl win in program history. In five seasons at CMU, Enos’ offenses passed for more than 3,000 yards four times.
Despite the reports of Enos soon being promoted to replace former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, now the Maryland head coach, he also was being pursued by Georgia. Reports soon surfaced after Enos’ hire that James Coley, a former Miami offensive coordinator, has been hired to be the coordinator for the Bulldogs.
UM’s announcement of its offensibve coordinator came less than two weeks after Diaz fired Miami’s entire offensive coaching staff. Diaz was hired to replace retiring UM coach Mark Richt on Dec. 30, the same day Richt announced his retirement.
Since the offensive firings on New Year’s Eve, speculation regarding the opening for offensive coordinator has run rampant. Among the reports of possible hires were former Houston coach Major Applewhite, former North Carolina coach Larry Fedora, Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott, Toledo coordinator Brian Wright and former Southern Cal coordinator Tee Martin.
Miami also appears to be adding a graduate transfer. K.J. Osborne, an all-conference wide receiver from the Buffalo Bulls, announced Thursday he would transfer to the Hurricanes for his final season.