Texas Football: 6 potential coaching replacements for Tom Herman

6) Texas football HC candidates

The dark horse: Rhett Lashlee, Miami OC

The Miami Hurricanes built a solid coaching staff around former Texas defensive coordinator and their second-year head coach Manny Diaz this season. A lot of the work that Miami did during last offseason was solid, which is why they remain within striking distance of an ACC Championship Game appearance, and thus a berth in the College Football Playoff it they’re able to win out.

Miami holds a record of 7-1 (6-1 ACC) on the season so far, and a lot of that is due to the progression of the offense under first-year former SMU Mustangs offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. The former backup Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback from the early-to-mid 2000’s made a name for himself in the college football coaching ranks in the last few years.

Lashlee’s had multiple stops as an FBS offensive coordinator since 2010, including with the Auburn Tigers, UConn Huskies, and Arkansas State Red Wolves. His stock as an offensive coordinator rebounded and then took off again starting during the 2018 season with SMU. He was SMU’s offensive coordinator for two years prior to taking the Miami OC job last offseason.

Alongside the former Houston Cougars graduate transfer senior quarterback D’Eriq King, Lashlee is helping this Miami offense average more than 33 points per game (top 40 in the FBS). That is more than a six seven point improvement from their average last season. Miami is also averaging more than 435 total yards per game and nearly six yards per play.

It likely won’t be long until Lashlee lands a head coaching job somewhere.