When you think of any of the most significant, long time, truly dedicated and experienced coaches at the University of Miami, the name of current UM Offensive Line Coach Art Kehoe has to come to mind first and foremost.
Kehoe played and coached at UM through many of the National Championship years that built Miami's amazing reputation for dominating college football. So then one has to ask, when Al Golden was sent packing, why wasn't Kehoe assigned the interim head coaching spot?
Here is the summary of the curious case of Art Kehoe according to Canespace:
Art Kehoe is in his fifth season as the offensive line coach on Al Golden’s staff and his 31st year overall as a Miami Hurricane. Kehoe, an integral part of The U Football legacy, has coached some of the best offensive linemen to ever play the game.
This past season, Kehoe continued Miami’s offensive line legacy as he coached three offensive lineman, which would go on to sign NFL contracts following the 2014 campaign, including offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, who was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
Under Kehoe’s leadership in 2014, the Hurricanes’ line paved the way for an offensive unit to average 430.3 yards per game, a figure that ranked fourth in the ACC. In addition, Miami’s offensive line cleared lanes for three Hurricane running backs to rush for over 5.0 yards per carry. As a team, Miami averaged 180.4 rushing yards per game.
During the 2013 campaign, Miami’s offensive line averaged 160.3 yards per game on the ground and saw four running backs average over 4.0 yards per carry.
In 2012, Kehoe coached an offensive line that paved the way for the ACC’s third-best passing offense led by Stephen Morris’ 3,345 passing yards and FWAA Freshman All-American Duke Johnson, who rushed for a UM freshman-record 947 yards.
In his first season back at Miami since 2005, Kehoe coached a 2011 line that helped UM to one of its most efficient offensive seasons in memory. The line blocked for the likes of Lamar Miller (1,272 rushing yards) and protected quarterback Jacory Harris (2,486 passing yards) en route to a national ranking of No. 3 in offensive efficiency, according to Footballoutsiders.com.
Kehoe returned to his alma mater in 2011, where he served as an assistant and eventually offensive line coach from 1981-2005. Kehoe began his coaching career in 1981 as a student assistant at UM. A 1982 graduate of Miami, he was an integral part of the Miami football renaissance since its beginnings in the late 1970s. He came to Miami in 1979 as a transfer from Laney Junior College in Oakland, Calif., and started at guard for the Hurricanes for two seasons under head coach Howard Schnellenberger.
Kehoe’s tenure of 28 years at Miami, a span during which he has either played or coached for six head football coaches, ranks among the longest of any UM athletics figure.
During his time working with the Hurricanes’ offensive line, Kehoe has produced seven players (Eric Winston in 2005, Brett Romberg in 2002, Bryant McKinnie in 2001, Joaquin Gonzalez in 2000, Richard Mercier in 1999, K.C. Jones in 1996 and Leon Searcy in 1991) who received first-team All-America honors. In addition, 23 more of his protégés went on to play professionally, including 19 all-conference honorees, one Outland Trophy winner and the 2002 Rimington Award winner.
Kehoe was on the staff for all five of UM’s national championship teams, two Heisman Trophy winners and eight of the Hurricanes’ nine 1,000-yard rushers rushed behind the blocking of Kehoe’s offensive linemen. His 2000 and 2001 units are often considered among the highest-performing offensive lines in recent college football history, and his 2002 unit was widely considered the nation’s finest by many observers.
A native of Conshohocken, Pa., Kehoe served instrumental in the rebirth of Miami football, playing on the 1979 and 1980 teams that returned UM to national prominence with a victory in the 1980 Peach Bowl (UM’s first bowl win since 1966). After his playing days ended, Kehoe stayed at UM as a student assistant coach in 1981 and a graduate assistant coach from 1982-84. He ascended to full-time status in 1985 and worked with the offensive line through the 2005 season. From 1992-94, Kehoe also tutored tight ends in addition to his duties with the offensive line.
As a coach, Kehoe went to 22 bowl games with the Hurricanes and tutored some of the greatest players in Miami history including Leon Searcy, Mike Sullivan, Jones, Mercier, McKinnie, Gonzalez, Romberg and Vernon Carey. A contemporary of legendary UM quarterback Jim Kelly, Kehoe has developed offensive lines that have protected many of the Hurricaenes’ outstanding quarterbacks including Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Steve Walsh, Craig Erickson, Gino Torretta, Ken Dorsey and Jacory Harris.
Kehoe, 56, is working for his sixth Miami head coach, spanning the likes of Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson, Butch Davis, Larry Coker and now Al Golden. Kehoe even served as UM’s interim head coach for 19 days during the transition from the Erickson to Davis era in 1995.
In addition to his coaching accomplishments, Kehoe was inducted into the University of Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.
1st
Posted by: Sy-Cane | October 29, 2015 at 10:19 PM
Keep him.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | October 29, 2015 at 10:21 PM
Clean house. Sorry Kehoe
Posted by: Schnelly | October 29, 2015 at 10:22 PM
And did you really include Jacory Harris in the list of outstanding Miami QB's?!?!
Posted by: Schnelly | October 29, 2015 at 10:25 PM
Kehoe's had to deal with youth and guys playing out of position.
He's earned the right to continue on here.
Posted by: Go Canes | October 29, 2015 at 10:26 PM
Philip Buchanon
Posted by: VA Cane | October 29, 2015 at 10:28 PM
Keep Art
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | October 29, 2015 at 10:30 PM
And did you really include Jacory Harris in the list of outstanding Miami QB's?!?!
Posted by: Schnelly | October 29, 2015 at 10:25 PM
Was not me, it was Wiki.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 29, 2015 at 10:30 PM
"Kehoe's had to deal with youth and guys playing out of position."?
Clemson's O-Line had 3 starts between em', no excuses.
Posted by: CaneRock | October 29, 2015 at 10:34 PM
Posted by: Schnelly | October 29, 2015 at 10:25 PM
Was not me, it was Wiki.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 29, 2015 at 10:30 PM
Everyone knows that Wiki, like a big butt and a smile, can't be trusted.
Posted by: Schnelly | October 29, 2015 at 10:36 PM
Clemson rushed 2 and KO'd Kaaya.
Bye Felicia!
Posted by: BEERicane | October 29, 2015 at 10:43 PM
When 2 can bullrush 5, it's time to go.....sorry.
Posted by: Raizecane | October 29, 2015 at 10:45 PM
Barry:
Former UM athletic director Sam Jankovich, who made great hires in Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson and presided over a UM program that won seven national titles during his eight years (including three in football), has some sensible thoughts on how UM should approach this coaching search.
Here would be Jankovich’s advice to UM athletic director Blake James, who has done excellent work with facilities and fundraising and now faces his first big coaching hire.
He said it would be a mistake to limit the search to people with UM ties (“you should not close the door on others and get yourself emotionally involved”), said the failed Al Golden experiment should not rule out quality mid-major coaches, and said UM needs to reach out to candidates that some people might believe aren’t available.
“Before I hired Jimmy Johnson from Oklahoma State, everyone said no way in the world Jimmy would leave there,” Jankovich said. “Before I hired Dennis Erickson [from Washington State], everyone said Erickson would never go. Now, there are six or eight that might be gettable.
“Take Sonny Dykes at California. Cal has some real drawbacks – very tough program and the surroundings of it. [Mississippi State’s] Dan Mullen -- would you rather be there in [Starkville] or at Miami? I’m not convinced James Franklin wouldn’t get tired of the shadow of Joe Paterno at Penn State. I’m not convinced Bob Stoops wants to end his career at Oklahoma. I would reach out to anyone” who’s appealing but not perceived to be looking for a job.
Along those lines, some UM people believe Texas’ Charlie Strong, Georgia’s Mark Richt and Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez might emerge as candidates and that Sttrong and Rodriguez in particular would listen, despite the predictable denials from any employed coach.
Among mid-major coaches, Jankovich said: “You have to look at the guy at Memphis [Justin Fuente] and Houston [Tom Herman]. Even though I’m not an Urban Meyer fan, he has done a great job.” Herman previously was Meyer’s offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
Jankovich said UM “shouldn’t have to panic; you don’t want to get emotionally involved and say we have to hire Butch Davis or Greg Schiano because everyone is screaming.”
He does like some of the candidates with UM ties, including Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal, because “if you are around Nick Saban, you are going to learn to be a great coach. You look at Jim McElwain [at Florida] as an example.”
Though Jankovich doesn’t believe it’s essential to hire a coach with UM ties, he said it is important to have multiple assistant coaches with Hurricanes connections who really “know what made this program tick and what made it compete on a national level.”
Jankovich said strong candidates would become even more attractive if they could bring a quality staff. He said James doesn’t need to hire a search firm (James hasn’t said if he will) because “that’s what you’re getting paid for.”
He doesn’t believe salary will be an issue. “Anytime you’re around $2.5 million, you can get up to $3 million,” he said. UM might approach $4 million for the right person if that's necessary.
“Of all the jobs that will open up --- I don’t know if USC will --- the best job out is this one [because] you can compete for the national championship,” Jankovich said. “What happened to Al is beyond me, but that team never improved. I don’t know if he was too loyal to his staff but you want to make sure the new coach can surround himself with really great people.”
CHATTER
### James holds former UM offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski in high regard, according to someone close to James, and it won’t be surprising if Chudzinski --- now the Indianapolis Colts’ associate head coach --- emerges as a serious candidate.
Chudzinski has been a head coach only once, for Cleveland. He was fired after finishing 4-12 in 2013. But he has been an offensive coordinator with UM and the Carolina Panthers and he’s well respected.
Among high-level Board of Trustee members, there is support internally for Chudzinski, Schiano and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator and former Alabama coach Mike Shula. But this is James’ decision.
Cristobal is a polarizing candidate among some Trustees – his ability to recruit South Florida is attractive but there’s concern about how his tenure ended at FIU (3-9, and 27-47 overall).
Several Trustees said they would be surprised if Davis got the job, but UM will not automatically rule him out. Davis continued his media tour today, telling 790 The Ticket in a live interview that he would "very much" like the job.
Posted by: CaneRock | October 29, 2015 at 10:47 PM
@ByTimReynolds: I reserve the right to not answer until seeing what happens with Chuck Pagano and Charlie Strong. https://t.co/ZA7cP4F9cM
Posted by: Go Canes | October 29, 2015 at 10:53 PM
Good article CR.....I am glad someone else sees that you just cant have blinders on when it comes to selecting a new head coach.
Posted by: Raizecane | October 29, 2015 at 10:53 PM
Pagano?
If they won't hire Butch because of the UNC scandal, they won't hire Pagano also. His name is on that report also, and unlike Butch, He's refused to cooperate.
Posted by: CaneRock | October 29, 2015 at 10:56 PM
1mg of Epi
Last time it was a 3 person panel. AD, Bernie and Dmare.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 29, 2015 at 09:14 PM
---------------------------------------
Butch had dinner with Dimare in Pembroke tonight.
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | October 29, 2015 at 10:59 PM
Posted by: CaneRock | October 29, 2015 at 10:47 PM
Mike Shula? Ugh.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 29, 2015 at 11:01 PM
Canerock where you at?!!?!?!
Where dem Fin fans at?
Im tryna tell yall TB12 is the greatest NFL player and BB is the greatest coach ever fellas!!
Mike Irvin said it best when he said that the lombardi teophy needs to be renamed to the Belichick Trophy!!!
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | October 29, 2015 at 11:02 PM
Jankovich said. “What happened to Al is beyond me, but that team never improved. I don’t know if he was too loyal to his staff but you want to make sure the new coach can surround himself with really great people.”
THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE!
Posted by: 86Cane | October 29, 2015 at 11:04 PM
Butch had dinner with Dimare in Pembroke tonight.
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | October 29, 2015 at 10:59 PM
I had dinner with my wife tonight in Winter Haven. But tomorrow night there is no telling...
Posted by: 86Cane | October 29, 2015 at 11:05 PM
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | October 29, 2015 at 10:59 PM
Yes he did!!
Whatya think?
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 29, 2015 at 11:10 PM
When it comes to a football coach they care what Bernie has to say. Unfortunately, apparently.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 29, 2015 at 10:13 PM
Lol no
Posted by: Lurker | October 29, 2015 at 11:22 PM
On a separate note, will the Dolphins trade Devante Parker? Since they seem content not to play him.
Posted by: TonyCane | October 29, 2015 at 11:28 PM
86 U on a roll my Canes Brotha. Top Notch Top Notch.
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | October 29, 2015 at 11:36 PM
Poor Dan Campbell!! RIP
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | October 29, 2015 at 11:39 PM
CaneRock... Lewis hit dat God Shammgod on ya boy didn't he??? LOL
Posted by: WWIN | October 29, 2015 at 11:40 PM
WWIN, Canerock no where to be found i think he's feeling the moves lewis put on that boy!!
Posted by: UpNorthCane27 | October 30, 2015 at 12:04 AM
The guy went 25-3 his last two years at Louisville.
That's not the result of just a good QB.
Posted by: Go Canes | October 29, 2015 at 07:13 PM
I am not saying he is a bad coach, IMO he is just overrated and not a "miracle" hire or slam dunk. He was able to recruit South Florida well, but IMO outside of FSU no other team benefited from Miamis downfall more than Strong and Louisville. I wouldnt be disappointed if we got him, I just dont believe he is the slam dunk he is made out to be.
Posted by: UMike | October 30, 2015 at 05:22 AM
Top of the morning all.......36 hours away from starting our 4 - 4 campaign.
Posted by: raizecane | October 30, 2015 at 07:25 AM
CaneRock... Lewis hit dat God Shammgod on ya boy didn't he??? LOL
Posted by: WWIN | October 29, 2015 at 11:40 PM
UpNorthCane
WWIN, Canerock no where to be found i think he's feeling the moves lewis put on that boy!!
Posted by: UpNorthCane | October 30, 2015 at 12:04 AM
LMAO! No comment.
Posted by: CaneRock | October 30, 2015 at 08:02 AM
If Miami loses agains Duke, does that go on Al's record? I mean losing to duke is shameful, but he has mastered it.
Posted by: BEERicane | October 30, 2015 at 08:03 AM
by: BEERicane | October 30, 2015 at 08:03 AM
He was 3-1 against Duke.
Posted by: Go Canes | October 30, 2015 at 08:17 AM
Miami football should never have a loss to Duke. Would be cool to see a win over a top 25 team in Scott's first game. I think we are either going to be dominate or very sorry. I dont think this will be a close game either way.
Posted by: UMike | October 30, 2015 at 08:20 AM
Actually, now that I recall correctly, the article was from Kehoe's Bio on the UM web site not Wiki.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 30, 2015 at 08:31 AM
For anyone who wants Kiffin. Or insists on a Miami guy. Or has nothing to do for 30 minutes:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13937182/pete-how-usc-hopes-recapturing-glory-failed-trojans
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 30, 2015 at 08:39 AM
The stench of Golden remain strong on the Space
Posted by: SinisterCane | October 30, 2015 at 08:41 AM
Posted by: UMike | October 30, 2015 at 08:20 AM
Agree 100%.
After facing the three best defensive lines we will all season, I'm hoping we will be able to run the ball this Saturday.
If we can't, we have no chance.
Posted by: Go Canes | October 30, 2015 at 08:49 AM
Go Canes, our RB's are talented, its been the OL and scheme. And with the OL having issues, we haven't changed the scheme. Our running plays our very obvious. It's not because we dont have the horses to win the race. I really hope Walton and Choc get more carries. Choc is being wasted imo.
Posted by: UMike | October 30, 2015 at 08:52 AM
^^^ that is very true.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 30, 2015 at 08:53 AM
Is Butch back yet?
Posted by: miamicane | October 30, 2015 at 08:54 AM
Coley Make Patrick Nix look like Charlie Weiss
Posted by: SinisterCane | October 30, 2015 at 08:55 AM
Posted by: UMike | October 30, 2015 at 08:52 AM
The Phins Oline is the worst in the NFL but when they switch the running scheme look at how Miller taking off
Posted by: SinisterCane | October 30, 2015 at 09:10 AM
DBJ on 560 shilling for Mario. U know that guy says nothing that isn't filtered, scrubbed and approved by his bosses. Scary.
Posted by: 1mg of Epi | October 30, 2015 at 09:20 AM
DBJ is speaking for himself.
Posted by: Lurker | October 30, 2015 at 09:25 AM
Coley Make Patrick Nix look like Chip Kelly, Bobby Petrino and Rich Rodriguez rolled into one.
Posted by: SinisterCane | October 30, 2015 at 08:55 AM
Fixed it for U.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 30, 2015 at 09:25 AM
It had been a turbulent year...
Still, Davis' team won eight of its final 11 games, including a victory over Florida State in Tallahassee and a victory over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl...
Davis believed he and his staff had emerged from the storm... Recruiting was going well... Davis even glowed when speaking to news media about how "reassuring" it was to have the support of his bosses to continue building the Tar Heels into a national power after the program hadn't even been above .500 in the five years before he arrived in Chapel Hill...
Then Chancellor Thorp told Davis he was firing him. Just like that. Said he needed to make a change. Change the culture. He even asked Davis to not tell anyone for a few days because he had a Board of Trustees meeting the next day. Davis, who always brought a notepad and a pen to every meeting, sat there jotting down whatever Thorp said. Thirty minutes later, Davis walked back to his car and couldn't believe what he had just heard...
https://www.canesinsight.com/thread/canes-recruiting/92388
^^^ Big chunk of Feldmans article on Butch
Posted by: UMike | October 30, 2015 at 09:26 AM
DBJ is speaking for himself.
Posted by: Lurker | October 30, 2015 at 09:25 AM
This time I have to call BS. DBJ and Zagacki are company men through and through. Scripted.
Posted by: 86Cane | October 30, 2015 at 09:27 AM
Sorry, Dolfans:
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter 3m3 minutes ago
Cameron Wake tore his Achilles. Out for year. Brutal.
Posted by: Ohio_Cane | October 30, 2015 at 09:28 AM
And, yes, he says he regrets leaving Miami.
"Very much so. I would've loved to have stayed for 30 years at Miami," he said. "We couldn't get it worked out from a contractual standpoint and it had nothing to do with money, but that's a whole different story. They win it the next year. They played for it the year after that. Everything was going spectacularly after that. How many would we have won? I wish I had stayed another 10 years to find out how many."
Davis' explanation for what was behind his departure from UM: "Ten days before we played BC [Boston College] in the last game of the season, we had completed 97 percent of the contract. It had taken us three hours to agree to the money. That was done. I was probably one of the lowest-paid [I-A] head coaches when I took that job [in 1995] and then after seven years, they were paying me $1 million. The stumbling block we could never get over was, if they decided to do what North Carolina did [by just suddenly firing him] they were only going to pay me 20 percent of the money, but because [Miami] had been burned by Howard [Schnellenberger] leaving and Jimmy leaving and Dennis [Erickson] leaving, so if I had ever left I had to pay them 80 percent.
"I said, 'Guys that isn't fair. I can't pay you 80 and you're only gonna pay me 20. If you wake up and say, 'I don't like redhead coaches,' I'm gone. Let's either make it 80-80, 20-20 or 50-50.' We battled over 20-80 for almost two months. I turned the Cleveland Browns job down. I turned down two other jobs. Well, lo and behold, the last home visit I made I'm sitting in Antrel Rolle's living room and his mom and dad said, 'Coach, are you gonna be here?' I said, 'Antrel, I will be the head coach at the University of Miami,' and I believed in all my heart I was going to be. Then we go home and four or five days later we still can't get the contract done. [Cleveland president] Carmen Policy calls and says, 'Would you reconsider?'
"I talked it over with my wife. You live a little bit in fear. I thought, 'Well, today they love me, but in 1997 they were flying a plane over the stadium, 'Get Rid of Butch Davis!' It didn't take long to keep reminding yourself that this 80-20 stuff wasn't fair. We made one more stab and called [Miami AD] Paul Dee and he went to the trustees and asked them to make it fair. Finally, we made the change. I wished I hadn't have, but we did."
Posted by: UMike | October 30, 2015 at 09:33 AM