In a huge blow to fans who enjoy squandering an elite stable of running backs, new Hurricanes head coach Al Golden confirmed offensive coordinator Mark Whipple's time in Coral Gables is over.
"It's not going to be Coach Whipple,'' Golden told The Miami Herald's Greg Cote Friday, responding to an inquiry about potential hires at the position after the Hurricanes fell to Notre Dame in an interception-plagued Sun Bowl.
"There will be a decision here pretty quickly. The NFL season closes Sunday and there is a lot of interest from people there. We should have our whole staff together in three to four days.''
That staff, which includes Randy Shannon regime holdovers Jeff Stoutland (offensive line) and former 'Cane Michael Barrow (linebackers) will now be without wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill. Hill, who was asked by Golden to remain on staff, confirmed to ESPN overnight that he has accepted a position with his alma mater, the University of Florida.
Hill also served as recruiting coordinator for the 'Canes, who have just six verbally committed players heading into the final month before National Letter of Intent Signing Day.
Two of those players, one previously committed to Golden at Temple University, committed to the Hurricanes' new coach after he was hired last month.
Miami's offense notched a pair of 500+-yard games this season, but its passing offense ranked 49th as the Hurricanes led the country in interceptions. Whipple had come to Miami from the NFL, where he was credited with grooming quarterbacks including the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
