Believe it or not this man is interested in the Lamar Football Head Coaching Job

[Guest abovetherim]

I heard from a very good friend of Billy Tubbs this man is very interested in the Lamar University Football Head Coaching job. I know it is early in the process but when has a man with a National Championship ring wanted to coach at Lamar?

Larry Coker

 

In the 25 years that the University of Miami has been a dominant force in college football, no Hurricanes head coach has won more games in his first five seasons than Larry Coker. Presiding over one of the most successful five-year stretches in Miami football history, Coker quickly earned a reputation as one of college football's top coaches. He is now in his sixth season as head football coach at the University of Miami.

Coker has led the Hurricanes to one national championship, two Bowl Championship Series title game appearances, three BCS bowl game appearances, five bowl games, three consecutive Big East Conference championships, and a remarkable 53-9 record in five seasons as the Hurricanes head coach. Simply put, Coker has met the challenge of exceedingly high expectations.

The Hurricanes have built a 53-9 record in five seasons with Coker at the helm, one of the most successful starts of any coach in the history of college football. Along the way, Miami notched its fifth football national title in 2001 and made it back to the championship game in 2002, in addition to making its fourth consecutive BCS bowl appearance in 2003. In the school's first two years in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Hurricanes have gone 9-3 both seasons. That's good, but not good enough for Coker and the University of Miami.

So when things weren't going in the direction he wanted, Coker was not afraid to make changes. This season he has six new coaches on his staff -- three of them are former college head coaches, one of them was an assistant head coach at a major university, and another is a former NFL offensive coordinator. Coker feels his new coaching staff will bring the Hurricanes back to preeminence in college football.

Coker has distinguished himself by bringing his own brand of class, dignity and integrity to the Miami football program. All the while, his Hurricanes have continued to win at the highest level, while displaying a grace and comportment that any college program would be proud of.

In 2001, Coker not only took the Hurricanes all the way to an undefeated season and a national championship, he led the team to the most dominant season in Miami's rich football history. His 2002 team went unbeaten until a controversial and dramatic loss in the Fiesta Bowl. Coker's 2003 Hurricanes racked up a fourth straight Big East Conference crown and became college football's first team to make appearances in all four BCS bowl games in successive years.

More than his on-field success, it's the way Coker's teams have handled the trials and tribulations of college football that made obvious what he and his players always knew: Coker not only was the right man for the job, he was the only man for the job. Popular with his players, with fans and with the media, Coker also has the toughness to lead the Miami football program. And this year he has an edge, and his players see it and feel it.

Miami's success over the last five years not only earned the school's players and coaches numerous honors and awards, it earned Coker The 2001 Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year Award, the 2001 AFCA Coach of the Year Award (shared with Maryland's Ralph Friedgen), the 2002 National Coach of the Year honor by American Football Monthly and numerous other honors. In 2005, he was voted by his peers as Region 1 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (which includes the ACC, Big East and several other Eastern schools).

Coker's proudest memory of his tenure to this point may have come at the end of the 2002 Rose Bowl, when a game official told him: "It was so enjoyable to work with your players. They're a class act. They're really national champions."

"That carries over to a lot more in life than just winning a championship," Coker said later. Coker's brand of leadership speaks to the kind of man he is: calm, easy going and secure in who he is and what he is doing. True to his beliefs. Consistent. Perhaps that approach was best summed up by Coker himself to a reporter just a few days before Miami's 2002 Rose Bowl victory over Nebraska. When asked what his pregame pep talk would consist of, he answered: "Just let's be who we are. Don't try and play outside the lines. Let's be as good as we can be. But don't try to be more than we are."

No longer college football's "nouveau riche", the University of Miami football program is now an established power whose players and coaches expect excellence and find little need to boast about it. Coker has been the right man at the right time for Miami.

Coker is proud of his team's successes on the field, but he is equally proud of how well his players have fared academically. The 2005 team graduated all 21 players, a total higher than than any other college in the country. The Hurricanes' 2004 graduation rate was 84 percent, far higher than the national average of 58 percent. In addition, Miami has received recognition by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as one of an elite group of schools to exceed a 70 percent graduation rate among its football student-athletes in nine of the past 14 years.

Miami's quest for supremacy in college football was put in the able hands of one of the nation's most accomplished assistant coaches when Coker was named the school's 19th head football coach on February 3, 2001. Coker's hiring marked the first time in 25 years that the University of Miami looked to one of its own when finding a football coach.

Coker's hiring also signaled how far the Miami program had come. The values of the program reflect Coker's values. Integrity. Consistency. Hard work. Poise. Class. Dignity. Those are values instilled in Coker at a young age. They're values he still lives by. And they're values he instills in his players and expects his coaches and staff to live by.

Coker and the Hurricanes want to set a new standard of football excellence for a program that has produced a phenomenal level of success over the past 20-plus years.

After a debut season in which he led the Hurricanes to the top of the college football world, Coker was not satisfied to rest on those accomplishments. His second edition of Hurricanes achieved another perfect regular season before falling just short of a second straight national title.

Coker's easy-going personality belies a strong competitive drive. He instills that drive in his team. For Coker, it's about the journey, not just the destination. It's not just winning, but winning the right way. Coker wants his Hurricanes to be remembered by their accomplishments as well as by their classy demeanor.

Coker understands the meaning of being true to yourself. That's why, along the dizzying journey to a national title, he didn't try to change who he was. He didn't put on a new persona when he was named head coach. And he didn't try out a new presence once he had led Miami to another national championship.

His ascension to the head coaching job at Miami has been described as "an overnight success story 30 years in the making." Because of that, Coker truly knows the value of the journey, as well as how to appreciate reaching the destination.

"We're excited and motivated about continuing to build on the tradition we represent and always striving to reach new heights," Coker said. "We always preach that the journey is the thing -- not just the destination. We want our student-athletes to appreciate the process, not just the reward. It's easy to say that when you've just won a national championship, but it's true.

"When we look back on our accomplishments many years from now, it's not just the moment of victory that we remember, but the struggles and triumphs along the way that will stay with us. The relationships, the camaraderie formed along the way -- that's what makes football great, and that's what is exciting about coming back to try to win again."

Coker's highly successful stint at UM is his most recent stop in a 37-year coaching career, including 22 seasons as an assistant at the collegiate level. He's found success at every stop along the way.

Prior to becoming Miami's head football coach, Coker served under Butch Davis as the Hurricanes' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since Davis' first season at UM in 1995. While the offensive coordinator from 1995-2000, UM went 51-20 overall and 33-9 in conference play. With Coker as the offensive coordinator, UM was 27-9 at the historic Orange Bowl and 19-11 on the road. Additionally, the Hurricanes won all four bowl games during that six-season span.

Prior to his arrival at the University of Miami in 1995, Coker spent two seasons at Ohio State (1993-94) coaching the defensive backfield. The Buckeyes participated in two bowl games during his tenure and were Big Ten co-champions in 1993. From 1990-92, Coker was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, assisting the Sooners to two bowl victories. Before heading to Norman, Coker spent seven seasons as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. In his seven seasons with the Cowboys, he coached 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders and the team went on to win four bowl games. Coker first made the jump to Division I with Tulsa from 1979-82 as the offensive backfield coach. Tulsa won three Missouri Valley Conference championships during his four seasons.

Wherever Coker has gone in his coaching career, success followed. The Okemah, Okla., native has been on college teams that have made 17 bowl appearances, and Coker's teams have been victorious in 13 of those 17 games, including a 4-0 mark as an assistant at Miami and a 3-2 record as a head coach.

Coker and his wife, Dianna, live in Coral Gables. They are the parents of a daughter, Lara, and the grandparents of twin boys Daniel and Dillon Goldmann (5).

PERSONAL

Full Name: Larry Edward Coker

Coaching Career

2001-06 Head Coach, University of Miami

1995-2000 Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks, University of Miami

1995 Quarterbacks, Ohio State

1993-94 Defensive Backs, Ohio State

1990-92 Offensive Coordinator, University of Oklahoma

1983-89 Offensive Coordinator, Oklahoma State

1980-82 Offensive Coordinator, Tulsa

1979 Running Backs/Quarterbacks, Tulsa

1977-78 Head Coach, Claremore (Okla.) High School

1971-76 Head Coach, Fairfax (Okla.) High School

Coach of the Year Honors:

National Coach of the Year 2002 (American Football Monthly); Big East Coach of the Year 2002 (Coaches); National Coach of the Year 2001 (National Sportscasters & Sportwriters Assoc., AFCA); Big East Coach of the Year 2001 (Coaches); Regional Coach of the Year 2001 (AFCA Region 2); Regional Coach of the Year 2005 (AFCA Region 1)

Other Honors: Eddie Robinson Coach of Distinction (2002)

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

1966-69 Three-year letterman at defensive back Northeastern State University (Okla.)

EDUCATION

1973 M.S. in guidance counseling and physical education, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma

1970 B.S. in history, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Bowl Games as a Coach (13 Wins, 4 Losses)

2005 Peach Bowl Louisiana State 40, Miami 3 L

2004 Peach Bowl Miami 27, Florida 10 W

2004 Orange Bowl Miami 16, Florida State 14 W

2003 Fiesta Bowl Ohio State 31, Miami 24 (2 OT) L

2002 Rose Bowl Miami 37, Nebraska 14 W

2001 Sugar Bowl Miami 37, Florida 20 W

2000 Gator Bowl Miami 28, Georgia Tech 13 W

1998 MicronPC Bowl Miami 46, N.C. State 23 W

1996 Carquest Bowl Miami 31, Virginia 21 W

1994 Citrus Bowl Alabama 24, Ohio State 17 L

1993 Holiday Bowl Ohio State 28, BYU 21 W

1991 Gator Bowl Oklahoma 48, Virginia 14 W

1988 Holiday Bowl Oklahoma St. 62, Wyoming 14 W

1987 Sun Bowl Oklahoma St. 35, W. Virginia 33 W

1985 Gator Bowl Florida St. 34, Oklahoma St. 23 L

1984 Gator Bowl Oklahoma St. 21, S. Carolina 14 W

1983 Bluebonnet Bowl Oklahoma St. 24, Baylor 14 W

Coaching Accomplishments

Won more games in his first five seasons (53) than any other Miami head coach (tied with Dennis Erickson)

First coach since Walter Camp (1888-89) to go undefeated through his first 24 games as a head coach

Led Miami to the 2001 National Championship, the first rookie head coach in 53 years (and only the second ever) to lead a team to the title

Winner of the 2002 American Football Monthly magazine National Coach of the Year Award

Winner of the 2001 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award

2001 AFCA Coach of the Year Award (with Maryland's Ralph Friedgen)

Two-time Big East Coach of the Year (2001, 2002)

First Miami head coach to go 12-0 in his first season

Twenty-eight seasons as a collegiate coach

2002 Miami offense set a single-season scoring record (512 points), surpassing the previous mark of 475 set in 2001

2001 Miami offense set a single-season scoring record (475 points), surpassing the previous mark of 469 set in 2000

Has lost just four bowl games during his 28 years as a coach

Had two running backs lead the nation in rushing while at Oklahoma State: Barry Sanders and Ernest Anderson

Has coached 26 first-team All-Americans (20 at Miami) and 94 first-team All- Conference picks (54 at Miami)

Coached 65 student-athletes who earned either All-Big East or All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic accolades for maintaining a grade point aveage of 3.0 or better

Miami has a 7-2 bowl record, and his offenses have averaged 27.7 points and 394.3 yards total offense in those bowl games

Coker's Miami offenses have led the Hurricanes to 27 wins against Top 25 opponents

PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED

Miami

Martin Bibla, Phillip Buchanon, Scott Covington, Vernon Carey, Ken Dorsey, Daniel "Bubba" Franks, Mondriel Fulcher, Joaquin Gonzalez, Frank Gore, James Jackson, Kelly Jennings, William Joseph, Edgerrin James, Andre Johnson, K.C. Jones, Andre King, Jerome McDougle, Willis McGahee, Bryant McKinnie, Richard Mercier, Santana Moss, Sinorice Moss, Clinton Portis, Edward Reed, Antrel Rolle, Mike Rumph, Jeremy Shockey, Sean Taylor, Jonathan Vilma, Reggie Wayne, Vince Wilfork, D.J. Williams, Kellen Winslow II, Eric Winston

Ohio State

Joey Galloway, Eddie George, Terry Glenn, Raymont Harris, Bobby Hoying, Orlando Pace

Oklahoma

Dewell Brewer, Mike Gaddis, Cale Gundy

Oklahoma State

Hart Lee Dykes, Mike Gundy, Earnest Anderson, Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas

Tulsa

Micheal Gunter, Ken Lacy

NCAA COACHING RECORDS 2001-2005

Since Larry Coker was named head coach of the Miami Hurricanes in 2001, he has the second-best record of any coach in the country.

Rk. Coach Team(s) W L T Pct. 

1. Mack Brown Texas 55 8 0 .873 

2. Larry Coker Miami 53 9 0 .855 

3. Pete Carroll Southern Cal 53 10 0 .841 

4. Bob Stoops Oklahoma 55 11 0 .833 

5. Dan Hawkins Boise State 53 11 0 .828 

6. Urban Meyer Bowling Green, Utah, Florida 48 11 0 .813 

7. Mark Richt Georgia 51 13 0 .797 

8. Jim Tressel Ohio State 50 13 0 .794 

9. Frank Beamer Virginia Tech 47 17 0 .734 

10. Kirk Ferentz Iowa 45 17 0 .726

11. Tommy Tuberville Auburn 47 18 0 .723

12. Lloyd Carr Michigan 44 18 0 .710 

13. Phil Fulmer Tennessee 43 19 0 .689

14. Ralph Friedgen Maryland 41 19 0 .683 

15. Bobby Bowden Florida State 43 20 0 .682

http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/coker_larry00.html

[DP#1FAN]

Tubbs does have a few connections and this is a sample of that.  Larry Coker  8)

[Guest abovetherim]

DP, you noted the connection there too. They both coached at OU. Then Tubbs was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Coker coached at TU. BTW, the friend of Tubbs I heard this from was Bob West during his radio show. So, I haven't lost my barbels yet.  ;D

[Guest mffl]

Good stuff, he is a proven coach.

Do you know any other interested people for the job?

[Guest abovetherim]

Just the ones Bob West had in his column a few weeks ago and a couple well known area HS coaches. If you notice Miami hasn't done much lately so it must not have been Coach Coker as the only reason for the Hurricanes down fall from grace.

[Guest Lions]

:o :o Get him!!

[Guest coachacola]

I read he applied for the Rice job last year and got turned down.  They hired the coach from Texas State instead.  Is that why Rice can never win?  I read an article today saying that he still has the desire to coach even though he's 58.

[KDOSullivan]

I am wondering? At 58 is he too old? He will be 60 by our first game.....I still would like to see what a 30-35 year old OC or DC could do....How old was Ray Alborn when he came in? Nice guy, funny guy, but he was washed up when he came to Lamar....I know I have been negative in the past, but if we are going to have it, I really would like a winning program. Think how long we had a poor basketball team before Coach Roc?

[Guest abovetherim]

Roc isn't exactly young. He is at least 42 and this is his first head coaching gig. I looked at the SEC and Big XII conferences and the vast majority of Head Coaches are at least 55 or older. I have a hard time believing Larry Coker is "washed up".

BTW, the vast majority of recruiting is done by the assistant coaches at the college level. If Lamar hired Larry Coker, he would be like the "closer" with recruits. The position coaches and the OC and DC are the guys to make all the recruiting visits both in home with the parent or legal guardian and at the school with coaching staff and school counselors, they are the ones attending HS or JC games which at this level will involve a lot of driving.

A coach like Larry Coker will do in home visits, visit with HS and JC coaches and on campus recruiting. But, that will be after the assistant coach did the vast majority of the leg work.

With that said, I do hope the OC, DC, and majority of position coaches are young. I'd love to have the guy working with the men's basketball team as a full-time strength and conditioning coach. He is really good and a Lamar alumnus.

[Guest coachacola]

Larry Coker is not the head football coach at Miami.  Randy Shannon is.  Get your facts straight.

I believe we all know that he's not coaching at Miami, that's why he may be interested in the Lamar job.

[RonBurgundy68]

Larry Coker is not the head football coach at Miami.  Randy Shannon is.  Get your facts straight.

I believe we all know that he's not coaching at Miami, that's why he may be interested in the Lamar job.

I'm sure where he got this article from, it is a few years old... So don't bash the guy because you know that he didn't type that all on his own...