FAYETTEVILLE -- Former University of Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos bolted from Alabama on Friday to take over as the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami.
Enos, who enhanced his credentials with a productive season tutoring Alabama quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts, was expected to take over as coordinator for the national runners-up Crimson Tide with the departure of Mike Locksley, but instead decided to team up with new Hurricanes' Coach Manny Diaz.
Media reports also connected Enos with the vacant offensive coordinator's job at Georgia that was created when Jim Chaney, another former Razorbacks' coordinator, took the same post at the University of Tennessee.
"Dan was my primary target for our offensive coordinator position from the outset and I'm thrilled that he's now a Miami Hurricane," Diaz said in a statement. "Dan is one of the most innovative play-callers in college football, and he not only has a remarkable track record of coaching quarterbacks, but also developing players for the NFL at numerous positions. His experience as a head coach will also provide invaluable insight to our entire program."
Enos' presence in Coral Gables, Fla., makes Miami a contender for the services of the transferring Hurts, who completed 73 percent of his passes as a backup and engineered the Tide's comeback from a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Georgia 35-28 in the SEC Championship Game. Hurts submitted his name in the NCAA transfer portal this week.
"I couldn't be more excited to join a program as rich in tradition as the University of Miami," Enos said in a statement. "Coach Diaz has a clear vision for this program as we move forward and it's an honor to help build the Hurricanes in his image. This was an opportunity I felt I couldn't pass up.
"I also want to express my sincere appreciation to Nick Saban and the Alabama program for giving me the opportunity to coach there this past season. I learned so much during my time there and I will always be grateful."
Enos tutored starting quarterbacks Brandon Allen (2015) and Austin Allen (2016-17), the third and fourth 3,000-yard passers in Arkansas history, during his three-year stint under Bret Bielema.
Tagovailoa just produced one of the best seasons for a quarterback in college football history under Enos' tutelage, passing for 3,966 yards and 43 touchdowns, with 6 interceptions, while completing 69 percent of his passes. Tagovailoa, a sophomore, set the FBS single-season passer rating record (199.44), won the Walter Camp and Maxwell Awards and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Oklahoma's Kyler Murray.
Alabama ranked sixth in the nation in total offense and passing and third in scoring.
Saban will be searching for his seventh offensive coordinator since taking over in Tuscaloosa in 2007. The next coordinator will follow in the footsteps of Major Applewhite (2007), Jim McElwain (2008-11), Doug Nussmeier (2012-13), Lane Kiffin (2014-16), Brian Daboll (2017), and Locksley (2018).
Applewhite, McElwain and Kiffin have all spent time as head coaches since departing the Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Saban said earlier in the season that Enos had done a good job with the Tide quarterbacks.
"I think Dan has really helped them understand exactly what the expectation is on every play," Saban told reporters. "And that comes through really good teaching and preparation through the course of the week."
Sports on 01/12/2019