CORAL GABLES, Fla. — His voice nearly cracking, Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt somberly laid out some of the many reasons why Randy Shannon was right for the Hurricanes.
Then there were 22 reasons that Hocutt couldn’t ignore - the games Miami lost under Shannon. In the end, those carried more weight than anything else.
Hocutt fired Shannon on Saturday night, hours after Miami lost to South Florida in its regular-season finale. The Hurricanes fell to 7-5, still have yet to play for an Atlantic Coast Conference title. Former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland will taking over on an interim basis.
“Change is difficult and change is hard,” Hocutt said Sunday. “But change, sometimes, it’s necessary. And this time, this change was necessary.”
Miami moved swiftly, with Hocutt already enlisting the help of Chuck Neinas - a consultant who specializes in coaching searches - and giving him an initial list of candidates. Hocutt would not divulge who the initial targets are for the opening.
Speculation has centered on Mike Leach, Mark Richt, Tommy Tuberville and Jon Gruden - each of whom would be a splashy get.
Yet Richt, who is head coach at Georgia, said Sunday he has no interest in returning to his alma matter, where he played quarterback in the early 1980s.
“We need somebody that’s experienced and understand what it takes to win, and understands the great tradition around here,” defensive lineman Adewale Ojomo said.
Shannon left with three years remaining on his contract, and even until his final day had plenty of support from many top university officials - president Donna Shalala included.
“Better days are ahead.Great days are ahead for this program,” Hocutt said.
Shannon, who went 28-22 in four years, released a statement through the university, saying he believes he left the program on better footing than it was when he arrived. He is expected to receive a buyout of about $1.5 million.
“I am proud of the last four years at the University of Miami and what we have been able to accomplish,” Shannon said. “I have a deep respect and appreciation for the young men who have played here during my tenure.” INDIANA
Hoosiers’ Lynch fired
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana fired coach Bill Lynch after three straight losing seasons.
Athletic director Fred Glass made the announcement Sunday, a day after Lynch became the first Hoosiers coach to win at rival Purdue since 1996. Indiana finished the season 5-7 and 1-7 in the Big Ten.
Lynch took over as interim coach in 2007 after coach Terry Hoeppner died from complications of a brain tumor. Lynch was 19-30 as Indiana’s coach, winning seven games in 2007 - the second most by a first-year coach in school history - and leading the Hoosiers to their first bowl bid since 1993.
Lynch is 100-97-3 in 17 seasons as a head coach at four different schools - Butler, Ball State, DePauw and Indiana.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
Bustle hustled out
LAFAYETTE, La. - A person familiar with the decision says Louisiana-Lafayette has fired head coach Rickey Bustle.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the university has not announced the move, says athletic director David Walker plans to discuss Bustle’s firing at a regularly scheduled basketball media luncheon on Monday.
Bustle declined talk about his future at ULL after theRagin’ Cajuns defeated Louisiana-Monroe 23-22 in their season finale on Saturday.
Bustle has coached the Cajuns since 2002, posting a 41-65 record. Louisiana-Lafayette, which plays in the Sun Belt Conference, went 3-9 this season. Bustle had four six-win seasons, but never coached ULL to a bowl game.
VANDERBILT
A little help
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt’s Vice Chancellor for Athletics David Williams says the school has retained outside help to find a new football coach.
The school hired Atlanta based Parker Executive Search firm to sort through possible replacements for Robbie Caldwell, who resigned Saturday morning.
The Commodores finished 2-10 for the second consecutive season after Saturday’s 34-13 loss to Wake Forest. Williams told The Tennesean the university had made no contact with potential candidates.
Sports, Pages 18 on 11/29/2010