The University of Miami is going to take it's time to hire a replacement for recently departed Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt. In the meantime, they've promoted Tony Hernandez to the job on an interim basis, with a permanent hire coming sometime before the start of the next football season. This probably means that men's basketball coach Frank Haith's job is secure, despite rumblings he could soon be out the door after another lackluster season.
Hocutt jumped ship to Texas Tech, likely for a pay raise and a chance to move back to his home state. Hernandez will be replacing him. He's a former assistant, associate and deputy athletic director (apparently all three titles are used at the school, and we have no idea what each signifies), and has also overseen the compliance and video operations departments.
A national search for a permanent AD is underway, with the hire expected to take the reins of the once-great but recently struggling athletic department sometime before the Fall semester.
This likely means that Frank Haith, currently in his seventh year at the school, will have yet another year to try and turn the corner with the basketball program. The 'Canes have an 18-12 overall record, with a losing 6-9 record in the ACC. Unless they pull off a miracle by winning the ACC tournament, they'll likely miss the NCAA tournament for a third straight year. Haith's mediocrity looks even worse compared with the success this year of the women's program. Coach Katie Meier's team is ACC regular season co-champs, in the AP top 10, and is guaranteed a spot in their NCAA tournament.
Shortly before he left Kirby Hocutt indicated that Haith's job is secure, despite rumblings from fans that he should be shown the door.
An immediate new AD hire might have sided with disgruntled fans, but with the program without a permanent leader at the moment, it's unlikely Hernandez will undertake a search for a new coach.
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