Larry Coker Makes Changes To Coaching Staff

Jan. 2, 2006

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head coach Larry Coker dismissed four assistant coaches today: assistant head coach/offensive line coach Art Kehoe, offensive coordinator Dan Werner, running backs coach Don Soldinger and linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves.

“For me, personally and professionally, it was a very tough decision,” said Coker, “but it’s a decision that had to be made. Our performance has not been up to expectations at the University of Miami. We have high standards here. The last five years have been a good five years. But my concern is the next five years and to make sure we are going in the right direction.”

Coker added, “This was not because of one game (the 40-3 loss to Louisiana State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl). That was a very disappointing game. But we evaluate continuously. When things don’t go well, you evaluate and make changes that have to be made. You cannot stay the same. We have to go in the right direction with the right staff.”

Werner was offensive coordinator the last two seasons and has spent eight years on the UM coaching staff. He also served as the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Kehoe had been part of the UM football program since 1979, as a player, graduate assistant coach and assistant coach.

Soldinger had two stints as the Hurricanes running backs coach, from 1984-88 under Jimmy Johnson, and from 1995 to 2005.

Hargreaves joined the coaching staff in 1998, coming from the University of Connecticut.