Larry Coker

[NT03]

YAHOO

SAN ANTONIO (AP)—Former Miami coach Larry Coker has applied to lead the new Texas-San Antonio football program in what would be his first head coaching job since the Hurricanes fired him in 2006.

Coker, who led Miami to the BCS championship in 2001 and is currently an ESPN college football analyst, told the San Antonio Express-News he spoke to UTSA over the phone about the job last month.

“That’s as far as it’s gotten,” Coker told the newspaper.

Coker said athletic director Lynn Hickey did not indicate if or when he might be interviewed. School officials have said they hope to have a head coach in place by March 1, and UTSA hopes to make its college football debut in 2011.

ESPN spokeswoman Tilea Coleman told The Associated Press that Coker did not want to comment. Hickey did not immediately return messages left at UTSA.

Coker went 60-15 in six seasons but was fired after going 6-6 his final year. That season was marred with off-the-field problems, as well as Miami’s infamous on-field brawl with Florida International that resulted in the suspension of 31 players.

Coker reached the pinnacle of college football in 2001, guiding Miami to a 12-0 record and a national championship against Nebraska in his first season as head coach.

The 60-year-old is now interested in a budding program still getting off the ground.

San Antonio is the largest city in the nation without an NFL or Division I-A football team. UTSA has about 28,000 students, and an overwhelming majority in 2007 approved a referendum that was a major step in obtaining a football program.

The Roadrunners plan to play in the Alamodome, the 65,000-seat downtown stadium built in 1993 that never attracted the NFL franchise like the city hoped.

Coker won the Big East in his first three seasons at Miami. He has said since leaving the Hurricanes that he wanted to coach again, and his name has been rumored for past openings elsewhere.

[DeepGreen]

Can you say on the "fast track" if they get Coker? Swoooosh!!! FAU, UCF, USF, UTSA. And we're still experimenting with a high school coach. Go ahead and roast me. Six hours removed from signing a decent (on paper) recruiting class and I'm already b!tching.

[UNTflyer]

Coker's National Championship was after taking over for Butch Davis. Miami went downhill after that.

[Mean Green 93-98]

Kind of a misleading article.

Former Miami coach Larry Coker has applied to lead the new Texas-San Antonio football program

Coker . . . told the San Antonio Express-News he spoke to UTSA over the phone about the job last month.

“That’s as far as it’s gotten,” Coker told the newspaper.

[UNTflyer]

How does one apply for the head coaching job? Is there a standard form to fill out?

[GoMeanGreen1999]

Coker's National Championship was after taking over for Butch Davis. Miami went downhill after that.

And they have really turned it around since he left. Seriously though, I would love to have a coach that has won a National Title coaching my school that is just starting out. He would be a great hire. His coaching record is 60-15 with 6 of those in one season. I'd take it.

Speaking of first time head coaches, wonder how Standford did in their recruiting this year with all of the high standards they have at getting kids in.

Edited February 5, 2009 by GoMeanGreen1999

[Mean Green 93-98]

Speaking of first time head coaches, wonder how Standford did in their recruiting this year with all of the high standards they have at getting kids in.

Very well. They pulled a few signing day coups, and finished with the #19 class according to Rivals.

[TheTastyGreek]

Dear Larry-

Please, just wait 9 more months before making any hasty decisions.

Love-

North Texas

[bstnsportsfan3]

Dear Larry-

Please, just wait 9 more months before making any hasty decisions.

Love-

North Texas

LMAO

[UNT_playmaker]

Please Mr. Larry Coker look at UNT before you choose any other school in Texas.

North Texas should could use someone with REAL college football experience.

I really dont know what type of shape this program will be in after Dodge is given his third year as our coach. That is my number one worry about next season. I mean you always say things can't get any worst and they have the past two seasons, I really can't imagine what is going to come next season, especially after the starting qb left the program and said the program was a wreck.

[Got5onIt]

Dear Larry-

Please, just wait 9 more months before making any hasty decisions.

Love-

North Texas

LOL!!!!

[aztecskin]

I am ambivalent about this. I am from SA. I have a spot in my heart for UTSA (top left) and I think Coker would be good for name recognition coupled with the excitement of a new program.

For UNT? Eh. I don't know if anyone would care that Coker signed here. They would think its a last-ditch effort to be a coach (it would be) at a school where he would be a bad fit (he would be).

Also, North Texas Mescan didn't sign any new recruits because star blogger aztecskin is coming back for his second year with the blog. Says sir 'skin: "I am really excited to continue where I left off and continue to produce half-ass posts between/during classes/work."

He then ate an Asiago Cheese bagel from Panera Bread cuz they taste soo good.

[Green Dozer]

Larry Coker did not make a big enough name for himself to really create a lot of buzz anywhere. There have been jobs open since he was let go, and his name very seldom came up. Must be some who question his ability to be the head man, even with the title. And, yea, he won it with Davis' players. There is another coach a little north of Denton that won his only National Title with somebody else's recruits

[UNTflyer]

I just wonder how many season UNT fans would give Coker before they start calling for his head.

[UNTnewbie]

I just wonder how many season UNT fans would give Coker before they start calling for his head.

Season's...Try Games. I seem to recall it was something like TD's fourth game when the first call went out for his head. I guess Coker would get a bit more because he is a "College Football Coach".

[DirtySavage]

Larry Coker would be a great hire for UNT. I can't find a negative with that kind of name in Denton.