Dan Wetzel reveals Lane Kiffin is top candidate for new coaching job

During Yahoo Sports’ College Football Enquirer show, Dan Wetzel revealed that Lane Kiffin has been named the top candidate for one school’s coaching job. Wetzel said that former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro claimed Lane Kiffin was the Hurricanes top candidate to replace Manny Diaz.

Lane Kiffin’s new job?

As Wetzel and Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde discussed the upcoming coaching carousel in college football, a big name came up for one of the biggest programs in the nation.

“I texted my best Miami source, or certainly the most interesting Miami source in Nevin Shapiro,” stated Wetzel. “Nevin is claiming that the top candidate is Lane Kiffin with Randy Shannon as the defensive coordinator.”

“Well, I can certainly see them wanting Lane,” answered Forde. “It always cracks me up though but this is what the boosters do at some places, including Miami. We’ll name your staff for you as we go. Here’s who you need — you have to hire Lane, you’ve gotta have Randy Shannon because he knows the program and he recruits south Florida. You don’t get a say in the matter. That’s how these things work out.”

Wetzel’s source for this information is the former booster behind the massive University of Miami athletics scandal from 2002 to 2010. Shapiro was reported to have spent $2 million during that time boosting Miami sports, primarily football. Miami was sanctioned heavily, and Shapiro was convicted for unrelated financial crimes.

Wetzel joked after revealing his source that Shapiro would have been great for Miami if he had been around during the new NIL era of college sports.

“If Nevin ever gets back in business fully, the Canes are gonna win. He was NIL before NIL to say the least.”

Manny Diaz not yet out

While Diaz has not been officially dismissed from his position at Miami, the recent decision to part ways with athletic director Blake James means big questions surrounding his future at Miami. James was part of the decision to hire Diaz in 2018, and his underperformance has been a point of emphasis for Miami.

James took over the Miami athletic department in trying times, as the university was facing an NCAA investigation into the actions of booster Nevin Shapiro. Shapiro allegedly provided football players cash, goods, prostitutes, assorted favors and purchased a yacht on which parties with prostitutes were held.

The former athletic director helped the Hurricanes through scholarship limitations and probation that followed the Shapiro decision, and completed a number of facilities projects. That included a baseball player development center, an indoor practice facility for football, a nutrition center and many more.

Still, football reigns king in Miami, and the program’s recent struggles were likely the deciding factor on Blake James. Diaz has been on the hot seat since the season began, and his performance so far hasn’t helped.