Live Blog: Canes Coaching Watch

Hurricane Nation wants Chucky!

It’s been two days since reports surfaced stating Jon Gruden would be the Miami Hurricanes next head coach. There’s been a circus of misinformation out there, similar to the NBA free agency fiasco this past summer.

One thing is fact. People are going to be right and people are going to be wrong. Let’s look at the timeline of all of the events and the latest rumors swirling around Miami’s coaching situation.

Information will be updated below until Miami officially announced their new head coach.

Last Updated: Tuesday December 1, 2010 5:00 PM ET

• Wednesday 5:00 PM: It appears the Gruden-to-Miami story is starting to lose buzz. The Miami Herald reports Gruden would like to keep his options open, with the NFL still in mind. However, there wasn’t a yes or a no from his end. Miami appears poised to start interviewing other candidates. It seems Canesport, FYI Sports Blog, and the Sun Sentinel were premature in their reports yesterday.
• Wednesday 2:07 PM: Fox Sports reports a source close to Gruden says there is a “zero percent” chance he will accept the Hurricanes head coaching job. The back-and-forth saga continues.
• Wednesday 2:00 PM: The Miami Herald reports there was no job offer made to Gruden today, that it was just “exploratory conversation.” There is also no press conference today as reported by many outlets.
• Wednesday 11:00 AM: Some believe the meeting today is simply a meeting and the two sides are further off on a contract than people think, as the Miami Herald suggests. Others believe it’s just about finalizing details and Gruden is set to become coach. I wouldn’t completely trust sources like Canesport or even the Sun Sentinel for that matter. If the Herald writes an article suggesting it’s a done deal, I’d completely support it. They have the best credibility rep by far down here. The Sentinel reported three weeks ago that Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne was out for the season. I believe he started last week, no?
• Tuesday 9:05 PM: Steve Gorton, of the Sun Sentinel via Twitter reports he has two confirmed sources saying Gruden will be meeting with Holcutt (UM AD) on Wednesday to finalize a contract. I’m about 85% in belief it will happen. The other 15 has to come from Holcutt or Gruden.
• Tuesday 8:15 PM: CaneSport reporting barring a last minute change-of-heart, Gruden will be Miami’s next head coach! Still would like a harder confirmation. If this is true everyone has to hammer Peter King!
• Tuesday 2:30 PM: Steve Gorton, of the Sun Sentinel, via Twitter “Source says length of contract yet to be agreed upon. some concern on UM’s part about Gruden jumping to NFL. money appears not 2 be issue”
• Tuesday 2:00 PM: There are also rumors swirling about Gruden putting feelers out to buy a house in Coral Gables. Sounds like LeBron all over again, but who knows whether this has any validity.
• Tuesday 1:00 PM: Don Van Natta Jr., an investigative correspondent with the New York Times reports (Via Twitter) Gruden is coming to Miami, according to a source. He said the source seemed definite it would happen.
• Tuesday 11:00 AM: The FYI Sports Blog reports that Gruden is still coming to Miami (according to sources) and it could become official as soon as Wednesday. Not sure what to make of this as I have never heard of this blog before. Upon emailing the writer about the legitimacy of the report, he responded that he is confident, waited 16 hours before writing to be sure, and that he would bet a kidney on it.
• Tuesday 10:00 AM: Canesport reports Gruden and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen are 1A and 1B on Miami’s list. They also note that former USF coach Jim Leavitt, who was fired for lying about a physical altercation with a player, could come with Gruden as defensive coordinator.
• Sunday 10:30 PM: Jon Gruden releases statement: “I am committed to Monday Night Football and to ESPN,” Gruden said in a statement. “I enjoy working with Mike [Tirico], Jaws [Ron Jaworski] and our entire crew and am just trying to get better at this job.” There is no denial here, just a standard press release.
• Late Sunday night: Fanhouse reports a close friend of Gruden’s said reports of Gruden joining Miami are “ridiculous” and “doesn’t believe it would be the right fit.”
• Sunday night: Sports Illustrated’s Peter King on Sunday night via Twitter: “Jon Gruden is not going to the University of Miami. Period.”
• Sunday afternoon: Former ESPN Radio host Lake Lewis via Twitter: “Just got word from a credible source that the next coach at University of Miami is John Gruden. About 3 Million a year!”

Potential Coaching Candidates

• Jon Gruden (ESPN) – By far Miami’s top choice. He has the big name and charisma to attract big-time talent and could thrive at the college level. He would get the most out of the talent here. But a concern has to be whether he is interested in sticking with a college program over the long haul? Is the end-goal still the NFL?
• Dan Mullen (Mississippi St. HC) – Was offensive coordinator on two Gators championship teams.
• Gary Patterson (TCU HC) – Has a great situation as TCU and is about to join the Big East. Only way he’d leave is for more money.
• Mark Richt (UGA HC) – Publicly stated he has no desire to leave Georgia. Says he has not been contacted by Miami.
• Brent Venables (Oklahoma DC) – A strong defensive mind at Oklahoma is bound to be a head coach in the near future. He has ties to Canes AD Kirby Hocutt.
• Randy Edsall (UConn HC) – Has overachieved leading UConn to the Big East’s elite.
• Tommy Tuberville (Texas Tech HC) – Former Auburn coach has a nice resume.
• Marc Trestman, CFL – Head coach of the Montreal Alouettes, and has ties to UM as a grad assistant.
• Charlie Strong (Lousiville HC) – Former Gators defensive coordinator. SI’s Andy Staples mentions him as a good fit.