Jon Gruden Would Be a Perfect Fit For Miami

Miami is not a college town. It’s a professional and a celebrity town. The Hurricanes need a flashy, Jimmy Johnson-type personality to recruit, to sell the program and to rouse the fickle fans. Gruden has the charisma. He has the hair. He has won a Super Bowl. He has worked in TV. He has been on People’s 50 Most Beautiful People list. He is cocky and cool in a way that Randy Shannon never was.

How will Gruden, a professional coach, handle working with inexperienced college kids? Quite well. He has always seemed like a natural teacher. He volunteered to coach the Senior Bowl multiple times. He spends his spare time working as a high-school assistant coach. He palpably lit up during those film sessions with quarterbacks before the draft last year.

Yes, Gruden had problems with players in the NFL, certain players who challenged his authority. Keyshawn Johnsons don’t exist in college. The players have no leverage. Gruden would be the undisputed alpha with complete control.

The apparent risk is that Gruden would jump for another NFL job shortly. Would that really happen? He has had success with two teams and won a Super Bowl. He has nothing left to prove at that level. The guy worked for Al Davis. How many romantic delusions about NFL life could he have left?

He may not take it, but Jon Gruden is ideal for this job.  The fit is almost too natural.  The picture of him strutting around a practice field with a deep tan, a golf shirt and sunglasses comes so easily its almost scary.

[Photo via Getty]