CORAL GABLES, Fla. _ A veteran in college football, Hurricanes coach Mark Richt knows this time of year, coaching changes are made and schools with deep pockets can turn their sights on up-and-coming coaches at successful programs.
With Miami having already clinched the first ACC Coastal Division crown in program history, winning 15 straight games dating back to last season and rising to No. 2 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings, Richt's staff could hold some intriguing options for athletic directors in need of new coaches. However, on Wednesday Richt said he remains hopeful his staff will stay intact as Miami looks to continue building on its success this season.
"I don't want it to change. I want everybody to stay. I think we've got a great thing going. I'm hoping everybody wants to stick around," Richt responded when asked about adding an additional 10th coach to his staff in January when the NCAA allows for it. "If I knew 100 percent that everybody would stay, I would have a better idea of what I might do. Not knowing that, it may totally change the dynamic of what I need to bring in."
Richt made sure to clarify he hasn't had any specific discussions with staffers who could leave, but said his comments were based on the fact turnover is sometimes a given in college football.
"I'm not trying to cause a firestorm. It's just coaching. Sometimes coaches move on. Sometimes they stay. When I was at Florida State, that staff stayed together I don't know how many years," Richt said. "It might have been 12 years in a row when nobody budged, and we had unprecedented success. I think we have that type of staff here right now."
