Watch Friday's Press Conference as Miami Names Randy Shannon Head Football Coach
Dec. 8, 2006
Coral Gables, Fla. (www. hurricanesports.com) – – The University of Miami held a press conference at 11:00 am today to name Randy Shannon as the new head football coach. Watch the press conference here on All-Access.
Player reaction to Randy Shannon hiring
Randy Shannon Named Hurricanes Head Coach
Defensive Coordinator Had Five Top 10 Defenses in Six Seasons
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Randy Shannon has been named the new head football coach at the University of Miami. Length and terms of his contract will not be released. Shannon, 40, has been the team’s defensive coordinator for the last six seasons and is one of the finest defensive coaches in all of college football. He has coached top 10 defenses in five of those six seasons.
“Randy has the discipline and heart of a champion,” said University of Miami president Donna E. Shalala. “He has been preparing himself for a head coaching position his whole life and I am very happy that the opportunity came at the University of Miami, his alma mater. We are extremely lucky to have him.”
“In our national search, we spoke to a lot of people about coaches and to a number of coaches about their availability,” said UM athletic director Paul Dee. “As the search progressed, it became very clear that Coach Shannon was the right person for this position. His history at the University of Miami as a student-athlete, a graduate, an assistant coach and as a coordinator has prepared him extremely well to lead a program that he fully understands. In our discussions with Coach Shannon, we have given him the resources to seek his offensive coordinator.”
A native of Miami, a former Miami Hurricanes player and graduate of the university, Shannon becomes the 20th head coach in school history. He replaces Larry Coker, who was dismissed on November 24. Shannon played for the Hurricanes from 1985-88 and has been an assistant coach for 13 seasons. He has played on and coached on three of the school’s five national championship teams. In 2001, he became the first UM coach to be named the winner of the Frank Broyles Award, presented annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.
In his six seasons as defensive coordinator, the Hurricanes have had seven All-America players. Shannon has coached in 10 bowl games with the Hurricanes.
Shannon is the longest-tenured member of the Hurricanes coaching staff. He has produced defenses that rank among the best in the history of the program. Despite a 6-6 record this season, the defense ranked fifth in the country in total defense (allowing only 252.1 yards per game), fourth in rushing defense (66.0 yards a game) and 12th in scoring defense (15.1).
In 2005, Shannon’s aggressive 4-3 scheme led the nation most of the season in nearly every category and finished No. 1 in pass defense (152.17 ypg) and pass efficiency (89.48 rating), fourth in total defense (270.08 ypg) and scoring defense (14.25 points), and 23rd in run defense (117.92). He was named Defensive Coordinator of the Year by Rivals.com.
In 2004, Shannon’s defense ranked ninth in the country in pass defense despite having three new starters in the secondary. The UM defenses in 2002 and 2003 led the nation in passing yards allowed, and the 2003 unit was fourth nationally in pass efficiency defense (96.16 rating), while finishing second in the nation in total defense (257.5 ypg). The 2003 Hurricanes also ranked among the national leaders in scoring defense (fourth, 15.1 ppg).
His 2002 unit led the nation in passing yards allowed (119.7 ypg) and in pass efficiency defense (83.91 rating), while finishing seventh in the nation in total defense (285.0 ypg), all of which was accomplished with an entirely new starting unit in the defensive secondary.
In 2001, Miami led the nation in turnover margin by forcing a school-record 27 interceptions and 45 turnovers. Miami defenders allowed a national-best 9.4 points per game, led the nation in pass efficiency defense (75.60 rating), ranked second in pass defense (138.2 ypg) and was sixth in total defense (270.9 ypg). The 2001 Hurricanes allowed just 12 touchdowns (seven rushing, five passing) and scored seven touchdowns of their own.
As a player at Miami, Shannon was a four-year letterman at linebacker and the starter on the 1987 national championship team. He received the Christopher Plumer Award for most inspirational player as a senior in 1988. An 11th-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, he became the first rookie to start at outside linebacker for Dallas since 1963. He played for the Cowboys for two seasons before going into coaching.
He was a graduate assistant in 1991 when the Hurricanes won their fourth national championship. In 1992 he became a full-time assistant coach working with the defensive line, and from 1993-97 he coached the team’s linebackers. He was a defensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins in 1998 and 1999 before assuming the role of linebackers coach in 2000.
Randy Lannard Shannon was born February 24, 1966 in Miami. He attended Norland High School and graduated from the University of Miami in 1989.
Player Quotes
Calais Campbell, defensive end
“Coach Shannon is a great coach and deserves a chance. We’ll make the best of it.
I’m really excited it’s him. He’s the one I wanted to see get the job, and a lot of guys on the team think so, too. Everybody is real excited. He’s hard-nosed. You have to do it his way. Coach Shannon is a very personable person and he demands a lot of respect. The players respect him and will put it on the line for him. Coach Shannon is a great motivator.”
Kyle Wright, quarterback
“We don’t have to get accustomed to new coaching staff, a new way to conduct practices. It is kind of ironic that a nationwide search and we end up hiring someone right down the hall. I’m happy for coach Shannon that he got the opportunity. We see him every day. We’re used to him. I think it’s going to be great having coach Shannon as out head coach.
(on a new offensive coordinator) “I’m with coach Shannon that we need to get past Nevada (in the MPC Computers Bowl) first. He’ll look hard for one. I’m anxious to getting back (from my injury) and getting back to work.”
Jon Beason, linebacker
“He has patiently been waiting. It starts at the top. His mentality, what he brings to the table, will trickle down to the offense and make this program elevate to the next level. It’s going to be one big family. That’s what you need. If you’re doing something the right way, there’s no worries. Even if you think you played great, he’ll find little things to make you perfect. He’s a perfectionist, which is why he’s the perfect guy for this job. People turned this job down, but that’s because they’re scared of the competition. Here it’s always about competition. With coach Shannon, you’re never there.
(on recruiting) “People in south Florida have trust in coach Shannon. There were a lot of recruits who said. `If he’s coming, I’ll come here.’
(on accountability) “That’s what coach Shannon says al the time. Everybody is accountable. With him it’s about perfection. People say we’re a top 10 defense, and he’ll still critique us to make us better. We never relax.”
Kirby Freeman, quarterback
“He knows how to put our guys into position to be successful. He doesn’t just know defense; he knows defenses around the country. He does his homework. He’s extremely successful at what he does. He does his homework.”
