Richt Names Three More Assistants to Miami Staff
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head coach Mark Richt announced the addition of Mike Rumph, Stacy Searels and Ephraim Banda to the Hurricanes’ coaching staff for the start of the 2016 campaign.
In their new roles with the Hurricanes, Rumph will serve as the team’s cornerbacks coach, Searels will move into the role of offensive line coach and Banda will coach the safeties.
“These individuals possess the type of qualities we are looking for in our staff,” Richt said. “Each of these men will play a significant role in our team’s development as we pursue excellence. I am looking forward to working with each of these coaches.”
Rumph, a member of the Hurricanes’ 2001 national championship team, returns to his alma mater after spending the past three seasons as the head coach at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla.
During his three seasons as head coach, Rumph guided the Patriots to three straight Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state playoff appearances and compiled an overall record of 34-6 in one of Florida’s most competitive districts.
Rumph wasted little time making his mark on the local high school coaching scene as his 2013 and 2014 squads claimed 5A FHSAA State Championships, defeating its opponents by a combined score of 104-8 in the final game. American Heritage became just the second school in Broward County history to win back-to-back state football championships.
Searels, the former offensive line coach at Virginia Tech, Texas, Georgia and LSU, and an All-America offensive lineman as a player at Auburn, reunites with Richt for the second time in his career. Searels spent the 2007-10 seasons on Georgia’s staff.
The Georgia native arrives in Coral Gables after he spent the past two seasons at Virginia Tech. During his two seasons at Virginia Tech, Searels’ offensive line helped guide the Hokies to a pair of bowl victories.
In 2013, his final season at Texas, Searels’ line enabled the Longhorns to finish 36th in the country in rushing offense and 17th in sacks allowed per game. Trey Hopkins was named first-team All-Big 12 while Donald Hawkins secured a spot on the second team.
In 2012, the Hokies offensive line, which was without a senior starter, allowed the opposition to post just 4.1 tackles for loss per game, which ranked tied for third in the country.
During his first season at Texas, Searels helped the Longhorns rank 21st nationally and third in the Big 12 with 210.4 rushing yards per game.
Searels joined the Longhorns after coaching the offensive line at Georgia for four seasons. He added the duties of running game coordinator in 2009. During his time there, the Bulldogs ranked in the top 25 in the nation in fewest sacks allowed three times, including ranking sixth and leading the SEC in 2009 with just 12.
A three-year starter on the offensive line at Auburn, Searels earned first-team All-America honors from both The Associated Press and Football News as a senior in 1987.
Banda spent the 2015 season at Mississippi State where he served as a defensive assistant under current Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
During the 2015 season, Mississippi State posted a 9-4 record and posted a victory over North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl. The Bulldogs’ defensive unit held opponents to just 23.2 point per game and ranked in the nation’s top 10 in redzone defense.
In addition, MSU led the nation in fewest pass plays of 20+ yards allowed in 2015, surrendering only 24. Despite several key injuries to seniors, the secondary ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference in passes defended with 63.
Prior to arriving in Starkville, Banda spent three seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Texas from 2012-15. He filled a variety of roles from scripting practices and organizing scouting reports to assisting with the defensive backs. He also worked with both head coach Charlie Strong and former head coach Mack Brown.
In addition to his work on defense, Banda also assisted with the Longhorn special teams.
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