[Aces]

Hyzinga is interviewing Shula for the head coaching job at Miami.
Wouldn't that be a riot. I heard this on Sports talk radio on my way home tonight. I dont think he'll get the job but he is being interviewed.

[bigboydan]

I know theres a Shula connection in Miami, but that would be a real bad move for the fish.

[Aces]

Solving Miami's mess

Dolphins owner asks for help in coaching search

By Chris Neubauer (cneubauer@pfwmedia.com)
Jan. 5, 2007




During his press conference to announce that he had encouraged Nick Saban to take the Alabama job, Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga asked for my help.

He asked for your help, too.

He implored media types, like me, and fans, like you, to send along your suggestions on how to improve the Dolphins.

I have one suggestion.

Give Mike Shula a call.

He’s available after the University of Alabama fired him and then hired Saban. He’s the son of the greatest coach in Dolphins history, Don Shula. He couldn’t beat Auburn, but he could at least split the season series with the Bills.

Did I already mention that Mike Shula is available?

The other names reportedly at the top of the Dolphins’ wish list are not available at the moment. Bill Cowher is employed by the Steelers through the end of the 2007 season — retirement or not — and it will require several draft picks (of which the Dolphins have only a few) to pry him out of the Steel City.

Pete Carroll is employed by USC, where he has won two national titles, is fresh off a dominating Rose Bowl win over Michigan and has the best recruiting class he’s ever had, coming to campus in the fall (at least that’s what Bob Davie kept saying during ABC’s telecast of "The Granddaddy of Them All").

So, give Mike Shula a chance.

It would be an even trade. Saban for Shula, straight up. No draft picks necessary. No extra power or extra millions (as Carroll would likely demand) necessary.

Shula would be grateful for the opportunity to follow his Hall of Fame father’s footsteps. He was an assistant for his father in Miami in the early ’90s. And he returned at the start of this decade to serve as an assistant for Dave Wannstedt.

He has been an offensive coordinator, a QB coach and a TE coach in his previous NFL stops. Saban, a defensive guru, couldn’t solve the QB mess in Miami, but Shula’s background should allow him to have a leg up in solving the quarterback quandary with Daunte Culpepper (too hurt), Joey Harrington (too inconsistent) and Cleo Lemon (who?). Shula could also help get TE Randy McMichael out of his funk.

Imagine the possibilities. I have. Too bad Mr. Huizenga probably won’t, even though he asked for my help.

Everyone will scoff at the notion of Mike Shula getting an NFL head-coaching job. But his father was on ESPN Thursday morning, detailing how young Michael’s phone was ringing off the hook with coaching opportunities. Maybe one of the calls was from Mr. Huizenga.

It’s unlikely. Instead, Mr. Huizenga will be drawn to big names like Cowher and Carroll. I’ve even heard Bill Parcells’ and Bill Belichick’s names thrown around. Or maybe one of the former head coaches on the Dolphins’ staff, Mike Mularkey or Dom Capers, will prove enticing.

Oh, don’t stop there. Another name I’ve heard mentioned is Jim Mora, who was fired by the Falcons on Monday.

Do you really think the Dolphins would want another head coach who ultimately covets a college job? Do you remember the Seattle radio interview that cost Mora his job? The one where he said he would leave the Falcons in a heartbeat to take the head-coaching job at his alma mater, the University of Washington. Wake up, people. We’ve got another Nick Saban on our hands.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on Wayne Huizenga.

So, what do I really think? None of the eight names that I’ve mentioned in this column is the best fit for the Fins.

The best fit is a twofold solution. First, the Dolphins need to restructure their personnel department, even though the businessman in Mr. Huizenga thinks the head coach should be judge and jury. The Dolphins need to get a strong-minded GM in the organization who is in charge of all personnel decisions.

As for the head coach, it’s time to go the coordinator route. The Dolphins received permission Wednesday to speak with Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. That’s a good start. Also consider Steelers OC Ken Whisenhunt and Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. All three of these coordinators are head-coach-ready and — who knows? — maybe there’s a Sean Payton or a Mangenius in the lot.

Mr. Huizenga will be tempted to make a big splash with the hire to counteract Saban’s headline-grabbing departure. Self-restraint is in order.

Since Don Shula left in the mid-’90s, none of the big-name hires in Miami has made it to the Super Bowl. Jimmy Johnson would rather fish than coach. Dave Wannstedt was always a better coordinator than head coach. Saban’s heart was filled with Sugar Bowls, not Super Bowls.

Don’t make the same mistake, Wayne, no matter how tempting it might be. Go the less sexy route and hire a coordinator without a wandering eye. Maybe he’ll bring some stability to the franchise.

If you’re looking for some cachet, the Shula name still has plenty.

[pags11]

I can't believe he's even being considered...

[tblues2005]

That doesn't suprise me at all here, I heard someone talk about that the other day, Shula is the son of Don and Don can give him lots of advise on how to coach in the pro level. I might work but it will take an adjustment to get used to the pro level. I would think he would be better off as an assistant coach for a while before coaching again.

[jjgold]

He is not ready unless he has good people around him and good payers.

[Seattle Slew]

They couldn't possibly sell this to their fans, but maybe setting up the new coach to hire him on the staff just to please Don.

[JoshW]

Would be good deal for Dan if he can score it, but I don't see this as a good move for Miami at all.

[Sam Odom]

Why not re-hire Don ? saw him on TV and looks like he could still do it. The fans would love it.

Let Don hire mikey as the QB coach

[onlooker]

They would be better off with Mora, Jr. Why go with another college coach that wont bring you success?

[Razz]

I always said that M. Shula would be a much, much better NFL coach than college coach. Why he was ever brought to the college game is beyond me. He belongs in the NFL, and I honestly wouldn't be shocked to see him have success in the NFL if he ever gets a head coaching job.

[pags11]

maybe razz...he definitely has the conservative personality for the NFL game...nice fake ******* punt vs. LSU that he tried on 4th and 13 to try and blow the cover for us vs. LSU...what a moron...

[Doc JS]

Is Miami approaching Oakland for ineptness???

Doc JS