MIAMI — It’s official Bulldog fans: Former UGA football coach Mark Richt has been hired by the University of Miami as their next head football coach.
The University of Miami Director of Athletics Blake James announced on Friday the hiring of Hurricane alumnus Richt as the 24th head football coach at The U.
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“Coach Richt embodies the competitiveness, the integrity, the passion, the abilities, and the experience to lead our young men to ACC and national championships and help them become men of character and success long after,” James said. “His passion for the game of football and for his student-athletes is evident in everything he does and we could not be more excited to welcome Mark and Katharyn and their family to Coral Gables.”
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Richt, born in Omaha, Nebraska, and raised in Boca Raton, Florida, returns to his alma mater after leading the University of Georgia football program for the past 15 years, compiling a 145-51 overall record and an 85-40 mark in Southeastern Conference play, winning two SEC championships, six SEC East titles and nine bowl games and finishing the season in the Associated Press Top Ten rankings seven times.
“We are blessed to have the opportunity to come to a world-class institution and world-renowned city and play a role in the life of the campus and community,” Richt said. “Returning to The U is truly an honor and I am humbled by the responsibility of leading our storied program. I can’t wait to get started.”
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Richt said he met with the Miami players Friday morning and is excited to get started.
"At this position you have the opportunity to affect lives in a positive way and that's a big part of why I coach," Richt said Friday morning.
He initially planned to coach the Bulldogs in their bowl game, but told his players the Miami job was something he couldn't pass up.
Richt held a team meeting for his players Thursday to give them the news.
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Sources told Channel 2's Zach Klein that Richt started crying heavily and became very emotional during his final team meeting.
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Bulldogs assistant coach Bryan McClendon, who coaches wide receivers, will step in as interim head coach for the bowl game.
WSBTV
