Mark Richt reportedly going to Miami Hurricanes

Mark Richt, the former head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, will reportedly assume the same post at his alma mater at the University of Miami.

Early Wednesday evening, Peter Ariz of CanesInSight.com broke the news of the former Georgia Bulldogs’ head coach Mark Richt will take the job with the Miami Hurricanes, his alma mater’s football team.

Richt played at the University of Miami before it was The U in the pre-Howard Schnellenberger days when the program was on the verge of being shutdown (1979-82). Richt served as the primary backup at quarterback to NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. He also shared the quarterback room with Miami legends like Bernie Kosar and Vinny Testaverde.

Richt first rose through the college football ranks as a head coach as the offensive coordinator for Bobby Bowden’s Florida State Seminoles, coaching two Heisman Trophy winners in Charlie Ward (1993) and Chris Weinke (2000). Richt then took over a so-so Georgia Bulldogs team in 2001, winning 141 games over 15 seasons, including two SEC Championships (2002, 2005) and six SEC East Division Titles (2002-03, 2005, 2007, 2011-12).

However, it was Richt’s inability to win the “big game” over 15 years at Georgia that led to his firing on Sunday after the Georgia Tech game, a rivalry Richt dominated (13-2 and 7-0 at Bobby Dodd Stadium).

Richt has the unique opportunity to bring his alma mater back to prominence in what has been a historically underwhelming ACC Coastal Division. With a long list of proven collegiate quarterbacks, expect true Junior Brad Kaaya to explode under Richt’s tutelage in their first year together at Coral Gables.

Letting Richt go was a questionable maneuver by the University of Georgia, opting to go with former Georgia defensive back and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. Many in Dawg Nation are sad to see a man of high character like Mark Richt leave the program, but The U gains one of the best head coaches currently in college football.

Richt brings immediate respect and dignity to a stagnant Miami program. Hurricanes fans, get used to Richt clobbering Georgia Tech annually. If the ACC Coastal is kinder to Richt than the SEC East, then The U is already well on its way to re-emerging as a national power.

This is the best possible situation for both Richt and the University of Miami if this report is true. Though Richt agreed to coach the bowl game for Georgia, that may not happen if he goes to Miami before the end of the calendar year.