'Canes Say Coker Deserves More Credit
Dec 31, 2002
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – With fans cheering, music blaring and players staring,Larry Coker stepped on stage and started dancing.
After top-ranked Miami beat Virginia Tech 56-45 at the Orange Bowl on Dec.7, a win that completed an undefeated regular season and gave the Hurricanes asecond consecutive berth in the national championship game, Coker let loose.
It wasn’t the first time, and it probably won’t be the last.
Coker, a 54-year-old coach from Oklahoma, knows how to relate to hisplayers. He can be a father, a brother, a teacher, a pastor, a motivator, aleader or even a baby sitter. He can be critical or coddling, funny or feisty.
“He finds ways to make everyone better,” defensive tackle Matt Walterssaid.
And he keeps finding ways to win. Coker is 24-0 at Miami, has two Big Easttitles, one national championship ring and is one victory away from becomingthe first head coach in college football to win national titles in his firsttwo seasons.
But the Hurricanes don’t think he gets enough credit.
Coker finished fifth in The Associated Press College Coach of the Yearvoting behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, Notre Dame’s TyWillingham and West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez. And some still give former coachButch Davis much of the credit for Miami’s 34-game winning streak.
“Nobody thought Larry would do this again, and he finished fifth in coachof the year voting? Come on,” running backs coach Don Soldinger said. “Hedefinitely doesn’t get enough credit. But that doesn’t really matter becausewhat we’re doing, people are going to look back and say, `Wow. That was prettyincredible.’ He’s taken what Butch did and added to it. He took it to the nextlevel, and that’s not an easy task.”
Coker has kept the Hurricanes atop college football despite losing 12starters from last year’s team, including five taken in the first round of theNFL draft. Miami also had four players picked in the first round in 2001.
Who deserves the credit? Coker or the Canes?
“Of the 117 Division I schools out there, I’m sure 90 or 100 coaches wouldsay they could do the same things we’re doing with our talent, and that’sprobably right,” Coker said. “I didn’t invent or build this thing. I justkept it going. I’m not the only person who could have done this.”
The Hurricanes disagree, saying that the longtime assistant coach whostarted his career in 1971 at Fairfax High in Oklahoma has been instrumental inthe team’s success.
“Coaching this team is probably harder than coaching any other team,”Walters said. “There’s a lot of natural talent on this team and a lot of guyswho think they are better than they really are. You can’t over-coach that.There’s a balance you have to find, and Coach Coker has found it.”
One of Coker’s biggest strengths is keeping things in perspective.
He opens nearly every practice by telling his players not to worry aboutanything more than practicing well. “That’s all we can control right now,” hesays. He makes certain his players are working as hard in the classroom as theyare on the football field, even benching several starters this season formissing study hall.
He told defensive tackle Vince Wilfork to stay with his family after hismother’s stroke in November, even though Wilfork wanted to return and playagainst Tennessee. He has talked to each draft-eligible player, making surethey are aware how the system works and how to tell if they should turn pro.
He has given career advice, relationship advice and even once baby-satEthenic Sands’ child while the wide receiver worked out with teammates.
“He knows how to place importance on all things in life, and football isn’talways first,” Soldinger said. “He demands a lot from the players whenthey’re on the grass, but when they’re off it they’re people and he realizesthat.”
And that’s why he makes them laugh more than anything.
He constantly cracks jokes in meetings and on road trips and even takes partin several team celebrations. He danced on a metal bench in the locker roomafter beating Florida State as players, with wide-eyed gazes and open-mouthlaughs, stood in a circle around him and chanted, “Coker, Coker.”
He danced again after Miami’s win over Virginia Tech, and a victory againstOhio State on Friday might send him into another jig – and maybe earn him somemore credit.
“Winning games is No. 1 on our agenda, and Larry should get a lot of creditfor it,” offensive line coach Art Kehoe said. “He’s a pretty amazing dude.Maybe somebody could do just as well. I don’t know. But I know one thing:You’re not going to do any better.”
