WATCH: Josh Gattis makes strong opening statement to Miami Hurricanes players

Former Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis surprisingly decided to jump ship on Feb. 6 and join head coach Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables. Why? Maybe it was the fact that Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh continued his flirtation with NFL jobs, or the fact that he felt disrespected by the Michigan administration during the past few weeks. Regardless of the reason for leaving, the 2021 Broyles Award winner has hit the ground running for the Hurricanes. The charismatic offensive coordinator is already making waves at his new school with his opening speeches.

He delivered an impassioned speech to his players on Saturday and his charisma and way with words were on fine display. Check out the video below from the Miami Hurricanes Twitter page.

"Commit to making this the best team, the best program, the best family that there is in the country… Simple as that."@Coach_Gattis already BRINGING IT. pic.twitter.com/A38xBl9mHz

— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) February 11, 2022

Here is the speech to the Miami players in transcribed form. “I’m excited to be here, man. Let me just tell you right now, men, it’s an honor to be here. But it ain’t a luxury. I didn’t come here…for me. I didn’t come here for you. I came here for us. As a team. United together,” said Gattis.

“I want everybody to understand. Coach (Mario Cristobal) just hit on it. Congrats on going through your easiest day. This was your easiest day. Because winning’s hard. Coach (Mario Cristobal) said it right?! Nothing out here is going to fight back,” he said.

“But when it comes to August, September, everyone will try to fight back. So in order for us to become winners, we gotta do everything at a higher level in every part of our lives. Commit to making this the best team, the best program, the best family there is in the country. Simple as that!” the former offensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines said.

Gattis then talked about the reasons he left Michigan.

“I didn’t have to leave. The reason I left is because I saw something in you. I saw something in coach (Mario Cristobal). I believe in his vision. I believe in the people here. That’s all good, but it’s up to us to make the change. How we do that is how we hold ourselves accountable each and every day,” he said.

“So, I’m gonna get a chance to meet everybody. Like I said, it’s an honor. I’ll get a chance to talk to the offense. But, hey, it’s up to us! Alright?! Winning is hard. But once we develop the habits to take us through the daily process, it’ll become easier if you commit to it,” the Miami Hurricanes newly anointed offensive coordinator said.

Joel Klatt praised Josh Gattis’ development as an OC

FOX’s Joel Klatt had high words of praise for Josh Gattis before the Michigan-Georgia matchup in the College Football Playoff. Klatt spoke about his development and how he developed as a play-caller in the 2021-2022 season.

“And I thought that he came into his own this year in a really big way. Namely the fact that, in past years, I thought he got a little pass happy. And then early this year, it was like boy you can tell he’s just trying to run the ball as much as possible–60, 65 percent,” Klatt said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

“But then at the end of the year it was like the marriage of the two. And he used it beautifully down the stretch. In particular against Ohio State, when it’s like, don’t get bored with something that’s working. So he ran the ball 20 times, only threw it four times in the second half because Ohio State could not defend it,” Klatt said of Gattis.

The former Michigan offensive coordinator put together a few masterpieces on tape this season, in particular the play-calling in the Ohio State game and Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa. Michigan manhandled Ohio State 42-27 in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines thoroughly dominated Iowa with a 42-3 beatdown in route to their first Big Ten Championship since 2004.

It will be exciting to see what Gattis can do with the Miami Hurricanes offense and his new quarterback, Tyler Van Dyke. He’s one of college football’s most promising young stars. Last season, as a freshman, he completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,931 passing yards, while tossing in 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions.