District303aPastPlayer
11-19-2006, 12:21 PM
Source: If Coker fired, Miami to target Spurrier
By Joe Schad
Special to ESPN.com
In a move that would shake college football, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has been targeted as a leading candidate to succeed Larry Coker should he be dismissed as Miami head coach, a source close to the situation said Sunday.
Coker is expected to be fired after Thursday's game against Boston College.
Miami president Donna Shalala had hoped Coker could win the final two games of the season and then could argue to bring him back. But at 5-6 and with the team in danger of missing a bowl, influential trustees and boosters have begun inquiring about prospective replacements and identified Spurrier, the former Florida coach, as the top choice with the goal of making a splashy hire.
A person close to Spurrier said he is interested in the position largely because he can compete in the state of Florida against his former school and believes he could win a national championship there.
Spurrier makes about $1.3 million a year at South Carolina and has 5 years remaining on his contract. Miami would likely be able to pay him at least $500,000 a year more annually.
Miami is scheduled to play at Florida on Sept. 6, 2008 in what could potentially pit Spurrier against Urban Meyer. The return date is scheduled for 2013 at Miami.
Miami also plays at Oklahoma on Sept. 8, 2007. Spurrier is close with Sooners coach Bob Stoops, his former defensive coordinator at Florida.
Joe Schad is ESPN TV's national college football reporter.
By Joe Schad
Special to ESPN.com
In a move that would shake college football, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has been targeted as a leading candidate to succeed Larry Coker should he be dismissed as Miami head coach, a source close to the situation said Sunday.
Coker is expected to be fired after Thursday's game against Boston College.
Miami president Donna Shalala had hoped Coker could win the final two games of the season and then could argue to bring him back. But at 5-6 and with the team in danger of missing a bowl, influential trustees and boosters have begun inquiring about prospective replacements and identified Spurrier, the former Florida coach, as the top choice with the goal of making a splashy hire.
A person close to Spurrier said he is interested in the position largely because he can compete in the state of Florida against his former school and believes he could win a national championship there.
Spurrier makes about $1.3 million a year at South Carolina and has 5 years remaining on his contract. Miami would likely be able to pay him at least $500,000 a year more annually.
Miami is scheduled to play at Florida on Sept. 6, 2008 in what could potentially pit Spurrier against Urban Meyer. The return date is scheduled for 2013 at Miami.
Miami also plays at Oklahoma on Sept. 8, 2007. Spurrier is close with Sooners coach Bob Stoops, his former defensive coordinator at Florida.
Joe Schad is ESPN TV's national college football reporter.