Report: ESPN's Jon Gruden To Sign with the Miami Hurricanes

Danny DolphinNov 28, 2010

Jon Gruden to the Miami Hurricanes? Say it's so!

Not even a full day after Miami’s breakup with Randy Shannon and the school may have already found their newest head coach. And it’s a big fish.

According to Lake Lewis of Sports Journey Broadcast Network on his Twitter page, Gruden is leaving ESPN for Coral Gables to become the newest head coach at the University of Miami.

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The terms of the deal would certainly be in the ballpark of $3 million annually. This report has not been confirmed yet and is certainly not a done deal.

If we’ve learned anything from this summer’s NBA free agency fiasco, nothing is done until it’s done. Remember in July when ESPN reported Dwyane Wade was close to signing with the Bulls?

Analysis

If the report is true, props to the Miami administration for going out and paying for a big name. There is plenty of young talent on the roster for Gruden to work with immediately.

It would also mean they reached out to Gruden before deciding to fire Shannon. There’s no way something like this gets done so quickly unless it’s been talked about ahead of time.

He would help in several key areas. First, he would boost recruiting. Imagine a former Super Bowl-winning head coach sitting in your living room selling you with his warm, friendly charm on why it’s great to be a Cane, with your focus gazed on that glistening Super Bowl ring dominating the man’s finger. He can promise these kids the best possible chance at getting to the NFL.

Second, he will develop. Miami hasn’t produced the elite NFL talent in some time.

Gruden has worked at the professional level with some great NFL teams and knows what it takes first hand. He is a big believer in the “West Coast Offense,” which features plenty of short, quick passes to open up the run.

If Miami is going to open the pocketbook on their head coach, they are bound to let Gruden hand pick his assistants as well.

It finally looks like this program is committed to winning again.

There is no question Gruden is an excellent fit and puts the University of Miami in the best possible position to return college football’s elite.

The team might be down right now after another mediocre season, but change is coming. Canes football will rise again!