Larry Coker
Encyclopedia
Larry Edward Coker is an American football
coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio
, whose Roadrunners football team
begins play in 2011. From 2001 to 2006, Coker served as the head coach at the University of Miami
. His 2001 Miami team
was named the consensus national champion after an undefeated season that culminated with a victory in the Rose Bowl
over Nebraska
. Coker was fired by Miami on November 24, 2006 following his sixth loss that season. After a stint as a television analyst for ESPNU
, Coker was announced as the head coach for the Roadrunners.
, the University of Oklahoma
, and Oklahoma State University. He was Miami's offensive coordinator
from 1995 to 2000 before taking over as head coach following the departure of Butch Davis
to the Cleveland Browns
of the NFL
.
team in the Rose Bowl
. For his efforts, Coker was given numerous honors, including the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award and the AFCA Coach of the Year
.
, which served as the BCS National Championship Game
. In a controversial game, the 11½-point underdog
Ohio State Buckeyes
defeated the Hurricanes, 31–24, in two overtimes to win the national championship. With the Buckeyes trailing 24–17 and facing a fourth-and-3 from the Miami 5-yard line in the first overtime, Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel
threw a pass to the right corner of the end zone to receiver Chris Gamble
, who was being covered by Miami defensive back Glenn Sharpe. Gamble reached back and got his hands on the ball, but could not hold on. Fireworks were set off and Miami players and fans streamed onto the field in celebration of what they thought was another national championship. However, several seconds later, official Terry Porter threw a flag on the field and called Sharpe for pass interference for pushing Gamble. Three plays later Ohio State scored a touchdown and send the game into a second overtime. The Buckeyes quickly scored a touchdown at the start of the second overtime period to take the lead and clinched the championship when the defense stopped Miami and quarterback Ken Dorsey
on a fourth-and-goal pass play from the Ohio State 1-yard line. Despite the loss, Coker tied Walter Camp
for the best record by a college football head coach in his first 32 games at 31–1.
and defeated their arch-rivals, the Florida State Seminoles
, for the second time that season in the Orange Bowl
. Miami finished the campaign with an 11–2 record and a #5 ranking in both major polls.
in 2004 and the team finished with a somewhat disappointing 9–3 record and #11 ranking in the final polls. The Hurricanes ended the season by beating the rival Florida Gators
, 27–10, in the Peach Bowl
Atlanta.
2 million per season, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football
.
The 2005 season ended on a disappointing note for Coker and Miami, as the Hurricanes lost two of their last three games, including a 40–3 loss to LSU
in the Peach Bowl
. This was the worst bowl defeat in school history, and included a post-game fight in the tunnel leaving the stadium. In the wake of this loss, Coker fired four longtime Miami assistants. The team finished 9–3 for the second consecutive season.
Coker was reported to be on the hot seat entering the 2006 season, with many speculating that he would need to at least take the team to a BCS
bowl in order to keep his job.
and Louisville
, leaving the team unranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 1999. The Louisville loss led to rumors that Coker's firing was imminent, but Miami Director of Athletics Paul Dee
gave Coker a vote of confidence, stating that he would coach at least through the end of the season.
After the team's October 14 win against FIU
was marred by a bench-clearing brawl, questions were raised in the media as to whether Coker would resign or be fired, but he was again given a vote of confidence by the school administration. The next week, with 13 players suspended by the ACC, Miami defeated winless Duke
, 20–15. All but one of the players returned the next week, as Miami jumped out to a 10–0 lead over Georgia Tech
, but struggled in the fourth quarter, losing the game 30–23. This left the team at 5–3, further encouraging speculation that Coker would be dismissed by season's end.
The following week, the 'Canes lost to Virginia Tech
, 17–10, as ESPN College Football
analysts questioned Coker's management of the clock in the game's final minutes. This was the first time Miami had been an underdog at home in Coker's six seasons as coach. The team fell to 5–4 and 2–3 in the ACC, suffering its first four-loss season since 1999.
Miami defeated a ranked Boston College team on Thanksgiving to finish the regular season 6–6. Revealing an apparent lack of communication between Coker and UM President Donna Shalala
, Coker predicted after the victory that he would be back as head coach in 2007. The following day, however, Coker was fired.
On December 8, 2006, the University of Miami announced Larry Coker's successor to be Randy Shannon
. Shannon had been UM's defensive coordinator from 2001 to 2006 under Coker. Coker was allowed to coach the team in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl
on December 31, 2006. in which Miami defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack
, 21–20.
In January 2007, Coker interviewed for the head coaching position at Rice University
. According to several media sources, Coker was one of two finalists for the position. However, Rice selected David Bailiff
, formerly head coach at Texas State University, and Coker was not affiliated with any team at the beginning of the 2007 season.
new football team
. On March 5, it was reported that he would be the head coach for the school's inaugural season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
, whose Roadrunners football team
UTSA Roadrunners football
UTSA Roadrunners Football is an American football program that represents the University of Texas at San Antonio. The team is coached by former Miami Hurricanes head coach, Larry Coker. UTSA began practicing in August 2010, and began competing as an NCAA Division I FCS independent on September...
begins play in 2011. From 2001 to 2006, Coker served as the head coach at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. His 2001 Miami team
2001 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team was the national champion of the 2001 college football season and is considered by many to be the greatest team in college football history.-Pre-season motivation:...
was named the consensus national champion after an undefeated season that culminated with a victory in the Rose Bowl
2002 Rose Bowl
The 2002 Rose Bowl, played on January 3, 2002, was a college football bowl game. It was the 88th Rose Bowl game and was the BCS National Championship Game of the 2001 college football season...
over Nebraska
2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Frank Solich and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
. Coker was fired by Miami on November 24, 2006 following his sixth loss that season. After a stint as a television analyst for ESPNU
ESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
, Coker was announced as the head coach for the Roadrunners.
Coaching career
Coker has served as an assistant at several universities including Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, and Oklahoma State University. He was Miami's offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
from 1995 to 2000 before taking over as head coach following the departure of Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
to the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
2001 season
Coker was hired as head coach of Miami after lobbying by the players, who had been edged out of the BCS Championship Game the year before. Coker had immediate success, guiding the Hurricanes to a 12–0 record and the national championship in his first season after dominating a Nebraska Cornhuskers2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Frank Solich and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
team in the Rose Bowl
2002 Rose Bowl
The 2002 Rose Bowl, played on January 3, 2002, was a college football bowl game. It was the 88th Rose Bowl game and was the BCS National Championship Game of the 2001 college football season...
. For his efforts, Coker was given numerous honors, including the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award and the AFCA Coach of the Year
AFCA Coach of the Year
The AFCA Coach of the Year award is given annually to a college football coach by the American Football Coaches Association . The award has had several different sponors over the years, including Eastman Kodak Corporation, and thus also been named the Kodak Coach of the Year Award.-Football Bowl...
.
2002 season
The Hurricanes won their first 12 games in 2002, pushing a winning streak that dated back to the 2000 season to 34 games and giving Coker an unblemished 24–0 record heading into the 2003 Fiesta Bowl2003 Fiesta Bowl
The 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl took place on January 3,2003 in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 31–24 in double overtime. It also served as the BCS National Championship Game for the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season...
, which served as the BCS National Championship Game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
. In a controversial game, the 11½-point underdog
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
Ohio State Buckeyes
2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was the national champion of the 2002 college football season. The team was the first in Division I-A history to finish its season at 14–0, and the second to win 14 games, following BYU's 14–1 season in 1996...
defeated the Hurricanes, 31–24, in two overtimes to win the national championship. With the Buckeyes trailing 24–17 and facing a fourth-and-3 from the Miami 5-yard line in the first overtime, Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel
Craig Krenzel
Craig Krenzel is a former college and professional American football quarterback. He is currently a radio commentator for WBNS 97.1 The FAN in Columbus, which broadcasts the Ohio State Buckeyes football games.-High school career:...
threw a pass to the right corner of the end zone to receiver Chris Gamble
Chris Gamble
Chris Lee Gamble is an American football player with the Carolina Panthers. During his NFL career Gamble has only played cornerback, but was briefly a wide receiver at the Ohio State University. He was converted into a cornerback during his sophomore year...
, who was being covered by Miami defensive back Glenn Sharpe. Gamble reached back and got his hands on the ball, but could not hold on. Fireworks were set off and Miami players and fans streamed onto the field in celebration of what they thought was another national championship. However, several seconds later, official Terry Porter threw a flag on the field and called Sharpe for pass interference for pushing Gamble. Three plays later Ohio State scored a touchdown and send the game into a second overtime. The Buckeyes quickly scored a touchdown at the start of the second overtime period to take the lead and clinched the championship when the defense stopped Miami and quarterback Ken Dorsey
Ken Dorsey
Kenneth Simon "Ken" Dorsey is a former football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami. A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Miami, Dorsey played for the Cleveland Browns from 2006–2008...
on a fourth-and-goal pass play from the Ohio State 1-yard line. Despite the loss, Coker tied Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
for the best record by a college football head coach in his first 32 games at 31–1.
2003 season
In 2003, things took a different turn when a pair of late season losses kept Miami out of the BCS National Championship Game for the first time during Coker's tenure. Nevertheless, the 'Canes won the Big East ConferenceBig East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
and defeated their arch-rivals, the Florida State Seminoles
2003 Florida State Seminoles football team
-Schedule:...
, for the second time that season in the Orange Bowl
2004 Orange Bowl
The 2004 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the and the Florida State Seminoles on January 1, 2004, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami defeated FSU 16-14 in a stout defensive battle...
. Miami finished the campaign with an 11–2 record and a #5 ranking in both major polls.
2004 season
Miami joined the Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
in 2004 and the team finished with a somewhat disappointing 9–3 record and #11 ranking in the final polls. The Hurricanes ended the season by beating the rival Florida Gators
2004 Florida Gators football team
The 2004 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2004 college football season...
, 27–10, in the Peach Bowl
2004 Peach Bowl (December)
The 2004 December edition of the Peach Bowl featured the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators.Miami took a 7-0 lead when it blocked a Florida field goal attempt, and Devin Hester returned the ball 78 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Matt Leach kicked a 34-yard field goal to male it...
Atlanta.
2005 season
In late September 2005, Coker agreed to a five-year contract extension with the university. The new contract would have paid Coker in the neighborhood of $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2 million per season, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
.
The 2005 season ended on a disappointing note for Coker and Miami, as the Hurricanes lost two of their last three games, including a 40–3 loss to LSU
2005 LSU Tigers football team
The 2005 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2005–2006. Coached by Les Miles in his first season at LSU, the Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
in the Peach Bowl
2005 Peach Bowl
The 2005 edition of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl featured two top 10 ranked teams. The ninth ranked Miami Hurricanes battled the tenth ranked LSU Tigers in this contest, the last to be played as the Peach Bowl....
. This was the worst bowl defeat in school history, and included a post-game fight in the tunnel leaving the stadium. In the wake of this loss, Coker fired four longtime Miami assistants. The team finished 9–3 for the second consecutive season.
Coker was reported to be on the hot seat entering the 2006 season, with many speculating that he would need to at least take the team to a BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
bowl in order to keep his job.
2006 season
Miami began the 2006 season 1–2, with losses to Florida State2006 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2006 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2006 college football season. Florida State entered the 2006 season as the defending ACC Champion, coming off an 8-5 record in 2005...
and Louisville
2006 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2006 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2006 college football season. The team, led by Bobby Petrino in his fourth year at the school, played their home games in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium...
, leaving the team unranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 1999. The Louisville loss led to rumors that Coker's firing was imminent, but Miami Director of Athletics Paul Dee
Paul Dee
Paul Dee is the former General Counsel and Athletic Director of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He held the position of AD from 1993 until 2008, when he stepped down and Kirby Hocutt was tabbed as his replacement....
gave Coker a vote of confidence, stating that he would coach at least through the end of the season.
After the team's October 14 win against FIU
FIU Golden Panthers football
The FIU Golden Panthers football team represent Florida International University in Miami, Florida in the sport of college football. The FIU Panthers are a mid-major NCAA FBS college football team in the Sun Belt Conference led by Mario Cristobal and play at the on-campus FIU Stadium.-History:On...
was marred by a bench-clearing brawl, questions were raised in the media as to whether Coker would resign or be fired, but he was again given a vote of confidence by the school administration. The next week, with 13 players suspended by the ACC, Miami defeated winless Duke
2006 Duke Blue Devils football team
The 2006 Duke Blue Devils football team represented the Duke University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by head coach Ted Roof. They played their home games at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.-Schedule:...
, 20–15. All but one of the players returned the next week, as Miami jumped out to a 10–0 lead over Georgia Tech
2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's coach is former Dallas Cowboys, Samford Bulldogs, and Troy Trojans coach Chan Gailey...
, but struggled in the fourth quarter, losing the game 30–23. This left the team at 5–3, further encouraging speculation that Coker would be dismissed by season's end.
The following week, the 'Canes lost to Virginia Tech
2006 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2006 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer...
, 17–10, as ESPN College Football
ESPN College Football
ESPN College Football is the branding used for broadcasts of NCAA Division I FBS college football across ESPN properties, including ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, and ESPN Radio...
analysts questioned Coker's management of the clock in the game's final minutes. This was the first time Miami had been an underdog at home in Coker's six seasons as coach. The team fell to 5–4 and 2–3 in the ACC, suffering its first four-loss season since 1999.
Firing
Miami defeated a ranked Boston College team on Thanksgiving to finish the regular season 6–6. Revealing an apparent lack of communication between Coker and UM President Donna Shalala
Donna Shalala
Donna Edna Shalala served for eight years as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton and has been president of the University of Miami, a private university in Coral Gables, Florida, since 2001. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest...
, Coker predicted after the victory that he would be back as head coach in 2007. The following day, however, Coker was fired.
On December 8, 2006, the University of Miami announced Larry Coker's successor to be Randy Shannon
Randy Shannon
Randy Lennard Shannon is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Miami from 2007 to 2010. Shannon played football at Miami and then with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL....
. Shannon had been UM's defensive coordinator from 2001 to 2006 under Coker. Coker was allowed to coach the team in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl
2006 MPC Computers Bowl
The 2006 MPC Computers Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game held on December 31, 2006 at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The game featured tie-ins between the Atlantic Coast Conference , which was represented by the Miami Hurricanes, and the Western Athletic Conference , represented by...
on December 31, 2006. in which Miami defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
, 21–20.
In January 2007, Coker interviewed for the head coaching position at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. According to several media sources, Coker was one of two finalists for the position. However, Rice selected David Bailiff
David Bailiff
- References :...
, formerly head coach at Texas State University, and Coker was not affiliated with any team at the beginning of the 2007 season.
UTSA
In February 2009, Coker applied for the first head coach position for The University of Texas at San Antonio'sUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
new football team
UTSA Roadrunners football
UTSA Roadrunners Football is an American football program that represents the University of Texas at San Antonio. The team is coached by former Miami Hurricanes head coach, Larry Coker. UTSA began practicing in August 2010, and began competing as an NCAA Division I FCS independent on September...
. On March 5, it was reported that he would be the head coach for the school's inaugural season.