Larry Coker Named University Of Miami Head Football Coach

Feb. 3, 2001

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami athleticdirector Paul Dee today announced that Larry Coker has been named the 19thhead coach of the Hurricane football program. Coker, offensive coordinatorand quarterbacks coach at UM since 1995.

“Our search for a new head football coach focused on our intent to hire whatwe consider the complete coach, a person who possesses exceptional abilityin leadership, a commitment to academic excellence, has tremendous integrityand is proven to be an outstanding recruiter,” said Dee. “Larry Coker meetsall of these requirements, in addition to being a man who can keep the Miamifootball family together and lead our program to continued success.”

“I’m elated and excited to be named the head football coach at theUniversity of Miami,” said Coker. “I’m excited about the opportunity andabout the chance to lead our program to continued success. It’s atremendous honor and responsibility to lead this program. I relish thechallenge to live up to the tradition of success that Miami football hasestablished. Now we have to focus on the job at hand and get back to work.”

COKER’S COACHING CAREER
Coker, 52, takes the reins of the Miami program after six seasons asoffensive coordinator. Coker’s highly successful stint at UM is his mostrecent stop in a 31-year coaching career, including the last 22 seasons asan assistant at the collegiate level.

Prior to that, Coker was offensive coordinator at Tulsa (1980-82), OklahomaState (1983-89) and the University of Oklahoma (1990-92). Coker also was incharge of quarterbacks at Miami prior to his appointment as head coach. Healso has been quarterbacks coach at Tulsa (1979) and Ohio State (1995).

Wherever Coker has gone in his coaching career, success has been sure tofollow. The Weleetka, Oklahoma, native has been on college teams that havemade 12 bowl appearances and Coker’s teams have been victorious in 10 ofthose 12 games, including a 4-0 mark as an assistant at Miami.

TURNAROUND AT TULSA
His coaching career began in 1979 at Tulsa as the running backs andquarterbacks coach under head coach John Cooper. Coker was named TU’soffensive coordinator in 1980, a post he held for three seasons beforemoving on to Oklahoma State University in 1983.

MOLDING A HEISMAN WINNER
In Coker’s first season at Oklahoma State, he was on the staff with formerUM head coach Jimmy Johnson (then OSU’s head coach) who took the headcoaching job at Miami in 1984. Coker remained at Oklahoma State through the1989 season, working from 1984-89 under head coach Pat Jones as the Cowboysannually produced one of the nation’s most potent offenses.

During his seven seasons in Stillwater, Coker developed the talents ofseveral outstanding players, most notably running back Thurman Thomas andBarry Sanders. At OSU, Coker’s offenses became indicative of the unit hehas produced at Miami, a balanced attack featuring an explosive passing gamecombined with a running game that can bruise opponents and take over acontest. The Cowboys finished ranked in the national polls four timesduring that span, highlighted by a No. 5 final ranking in the United PressInternational (UPI) poll at the conclusion of the 1984 season.

Coker’s most memorable season at Oklahoma State came in 1988 when Sanders,to that point an unheralded backup to Thomas, burst into the nationalspotlight with an unforgettable season that was just part of an offensiveexplosion that saw the Cowboys lead the nation in scoring with an average ofmore than 48 points per game.

While Sanders was rushing for more than 2,000 yards on the way to winningthe Heisman Trophy, OSU’s deadly passing attack also flourished asquarterback Mike Gundy set several Big 8 Conference passing records,including a conference mark for passing yards in a bowl game. Overall,Coker tutored two running backs at OSU who went on to lead the nation inrushing: Sanders (1988) and Gerald Hudson (1990).

Oklahoma State produced six winning seasons in Coker’s seven years directingthe Cowboys offense. During that period, the Cowboys averaged more than 350yards per game of total offense four times including a school-record averageof 515.2 yards per game (317.5 rushing, 197.7 passing) in 1988. OSU was56-26-0 (.783) during Coker’s time in Stillwater.

A NEW ATTACK AT OKLAHOMA
In 1990, Coker moved on to the University of Oklahoma as offensivecoordinator for the Sooners under head coach Gary Gibbs and constructed themost potent passing offense in OU history to that point. As part of a planto diversify an attack that had historically been rush-oriented, Coker’sunit in 1990 produced 401 points (36.5 points per game) on the way to an 8-3record.

The 1991 Sooners finished 9-3, including a Gator Bowl victory, and tied aschool mark for fewest turnovers in a season with 18. That team finishedthe season ranked 16th in the final Associated Press rankings. Coker’s 1992unit continued that explosive, yet efficient, trend. That season theSooners set school records for pass completions (158), passing yards (2,214)and passing yards per game (201.3 ypg). The Sooners went 22-10-2 (.647)during Coker’s stay in Norman before a new opportunity beckoned in the BigTen Conference.

AT OHIO STATE
A defensive back during his playing days at Northeastern Oklahoma State,Coker showed his versatility as a coach when he made the move to become apart of head coach John Cooper’s staff at Ohio State prior to the 1993season. The move not only reunited Coker with Cooper, his former bossduring Coker’s stint as an assistant at Tulsa, but to showcase his acumen asa football man on both sides of the ball.

Coker coached the Buckeye defensive backs during the 1993 and 1994 seasonsas Ohio State fielded one of the nation’s toughest defensive units whilefinishing among the nation’s top teams in both seasons. The Buckeyesfinished the 1993 season ranked 11th in the Associated press rankings.OSU’s 1994 team was 14th in the final AP polls.

MIAMI MAGIC
After an offseason shift to quarterbacks coach at Ohio State, Coker joinedButchDavis at Miami when he was named the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinatorand quarterbacks coach on February 10, 1995. Since his arrival in Miami,Coker’s offenses have produced three of the school’s four 1,000-yard rushers(Danyell Ferguson, Edgerrin James and James Jackson), six first-teamAll-Americans (center K.C. Jones in 1996, tackle Richard Mercier in 1999,tight end Bubba Franks in 1999, receiver/return man Santana Moss in 2000,tackle Joaquin Gonzalez in 2000 and tackle Bryant McKinnie in 2000), and oneBIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year (Moss, 2000), plus 19 first-teamAll-BIG EAST honorees.

Miami has won 51 of 71 games since Coker’s arrival, including two conferencetitles, and has averaged 406.2 yards per game while scoring at a clip of32.9 points per contest. Miami has produced 500 or more yards of totaloffense in 15 games since 1995, while amassing 600 or more yards four timesunder Coker’s tutelage.

COKER’S MIAMI OFFENSES

1995
His first offense at UM helped lead the Hurricanes to an 8-3 record and aBIG EAST Conference co-championship. Three Miami players (center K.C.Jones, running back Danyell Ferguson and wide receiver Jammi German) earnedfirst-team all-conference honors. Ferguson became only the third Miamirunning back to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing in a season. The Hurricanesaveraged 365.5 yards per game in 1995, scoring at a pace of 27 points percontest while notching seven consecutive victories to close the regularseason.

1996
Coker’s 1996 unit averaged 411.6 yards and 33.5 points per game as theHurricanes completed a 9-3 season with a victory over Virginia in theCarquest Bowl. Center K.C. Jones earned first-team All-America acclaim andMiami finished 6-2 in the BIG EAST. Quarterbacks Ryan Clement and ScottCovington combined to throw for 3,176 yards and 23 touchdowns for theseason.

1997
The 1997 Miami offense produced two freshman All-Americans (tight end BubbaFranks and wide receiver Reggie Wayne), the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year(Wayne) and three BIG EAST All-Conference selections (lineman Kerlin Blaise,running back Edgerrin James and cornerback Duane Starks). That offenseproduced another 1,000-yard rusher in James and the BIG EAST’s leadingpasser (Covington) while the Canes averaged 392.2 yards per contest andscored 28.5 points per game. This offense was the first in UM history torush for more than 300 yards in three consecutive games.

1998
Coker’s 1998 offense ranked 10th nationally in scoring (36.5 points pergame), averaged 248.5 yards per game through the air and produced 451.5yards per game of total offense as the Hurricanes finished the season 9-3and whipped North Carolina State in the Micron PC Bowl. Running backEdgerrin James spearheaded a rushing game that averaged 202.9 yards per gamewith 1,416 yards on the ground. The Hurricanes capped the regular seasonwith a memorable upset victory over top-ranked UCLA with Coker’s offenseoutgunning the vaunted Bruin attack in a 49-45 victory at the Orange Bowl.Three Hurricane offensive players earned all-conference honors (James,tackle Richard Mercier and tight end Bubba Franks) and tackle JoaquinGonzalez was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, the first offensive linemanto earn that honor.

1999
Miami again ranked among the nation’s scoring leaders (14th) with an averageof 33.7 points per game and the Hurricanes ranked second in total offense(404.4 ypg), passing offense (230.5 ypg) and was third in rushing offense(173.0 ypg). Coker’s ability as quarterbacking tutor was proven under fireas the unit overcame the loss of starting quarterback Kenny Kelly to aninjury to become the BIG EAST’s most balanced offense for the fifthconsecutive season. With true freshman Ken Dorsey taking over under center,Miami closed out the season with its most productive three-game scoringstretch ever as UM notched an amazing 155 points over a three-game span.The 9-4 season was capped with an impressive win over Georgia Tech in theToyota Gator Bowl, allowing UM to finish 15th in the national polls andsetting up. Four players earned first-team All-BIG EAST (tight end BubbaFranks, offensive lineman Richard Mercier, receiver Santana Moss, lineman TyWise), and two (Franks and Mercier) received All-America recognition.

2000
Miami returned to college football’s elite with an impressive 11-1 season inwhich the Hurricanes knocked off Florida State, Virginia Tech and Floridabehind one of the nation’s most explosive offensive arsenals. QuarterbackKen Dorsey and receivers Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne teamed with runningback James Jackson to produce an explosion of points and yardage. Add tothat an offensive line that was virtually impregnable (allowing only eightquarterback sacks) and Coker’s troops were almost impossible to contain.The Hurricanes set a BIG EAST record by scoring 469 points during theregular season (a school record) and added 37 more in a Sugar Bowl romp overFlorida. Miami’s 460.8 yards per game ranked fifth nationally in totaloffense while UM’s 42.6 points per game ranked second in the NCAA. Behindthe passing of Dorsey, Miami finished with a team passing efficiency of152.8 to rank third in the NCAA. Five Hurricanes (Dorsey, Moss, Wayne,offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and tackle Joaquin Gonzalez) earnedfirst-team All-BIG EAST honors. Moss was named the BIG EAST OffensivePlayer of the Year.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
1966-69: Four-year letterman at defensive back, Northeastern StateUniversity, Tahlequah, Oklahoma

EDUCATION
1973: M.S. in Guidance Counseling and Physical Education, Northeastern State Univ., Tahlequah, Oklahoma
1970: B.S. in History, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma

PERSONAL DATA

What They’re Saying . . .

“I would like to express my congratulations and my thanks to Coach Coker for assuming this position. I am pleased that the great ‘Canes tradition will continue smoothly into its next era.”

“I wish the best to Coach Coker and his coaching associates as well as the Hurricanes.”
-Edward T. Foote II
University of Miami President

“Our search for a new head football coach focused on our intent to hire whatwe consider the complete coach, a person who possesses exceptional abilityin leadership, a commitment to academic excellence, has tremendous integrityand is proven to be an outstanding recruiter.

“Larry Coker meets all of these requirements, in addition to being a manwho can keep the Miami football family together and lead our program tocontinued success.”

“We wanted a coach who understands what Miami football is about, a manwho understands why Hurricane football is so special. Larry Coker has beenan integral part of our program for six years and knows better than most thechallenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
-Paul Dee
Miami Athletic Director

“It was important in our search, that we identify the individual who wouldkeep our football program amongst the finest in the nation. We wanted toensure that our new coach had the ability to develop winners both off thefield and on. We are confident that Larry Coker is this individual.”

“In his six years as offensive coordinator he has shown the leadershipskills and coaching knowledge that now allow him to lead our footballprogram. He will make all of us in the University of Miami family proud.”
-Dr. Edward Dauer
Trustee – University of Miami Athletic Advisory Committee

“Excellent! He’s the man we wanted and he’s the man who can keep us on theright track. This is not only great for the guys who are returning, but itsends a great message to any recruits out there. Coach Coker will do greatthings at UM and I’m excited about being a part of the start of his headcoaching career.”
–Brett Romberg
junior center

“I’m very happy about Coach Coker taking over the program. This allows usto keep going where we left off with Coach Davis. Also, it allows us tocontinue with the system we have. That also helps the younger players whoare learning our system to make an impact, instead of starting over withsomething new.”
–Bryant McKinnie
junior left tackle

“This is exactly what the players wanted and I know we’re all extremelyhappy about Coach Coker being named the new head coach. It’s great to knowthat we will not have to learn a new system and deal with all that involves.He’s the best man for the job, not just for our offense, but for the entireprogram.”
–Ken Dorsey
sophomore quarterback

“It’s a great decision by the University. There was a lot of concern on theteam about continuing on with what we’ve been building. With Coach Coker incharge, we will continue what we’ve started. The entire program willbenefit from this, in more ways than anyone can imagine. We have a nationalchampionship in our sights and I know Coach Coker is the man who can get usthere.”
–Matt Walters
sophomore defensive tackle