Shannon Dawson is candidate to be Miami's next offensive coordinator

A former Kentucky offensive coordinator could be on the verge of landing a major job in college football as Mario Cristobal looks to find a new offensive coordinator at Miami.

The Hurricanes relieved play-caller Josh Gattis of his duties after just one season spent in Coral Gables as the Canes finished the year at 5-7 (3-5) with an offense that ranked No. 77 in adjusted efficiency. One year later, Cristobal is having a coaching search run late and a familiar name to the Big Blue Nation is on the radar.

Per David Lake of 247 Sports, Houston passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shannon Dawson interviewed for the Miami offensive coordinator position this weekend. Dawson served as the primary play-caller for head coach Dana Holgorsen’s Air Raid scheme each of the past two seasons.

Dawson, 45, is an Air Raid disciple who got his big break when Holgorsen hired him at West Virginia. The Louisiana native would spend four seasons (2011-14) in Morgantown before Mark Stoops hired Dawson to be Kentucky’s offensive coordinator in 2015.

That marriage lasted just one season.

Under Dawson’s watch, Kentucky finished No. 79 in adjusted offensive efficiency per ESPN’s SP+ that season. The passing game struggled to get going as Patrick Towles threw nine touchdowns with 14 interceptions and averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt. The Wildcats lost six games in a row to power conference competition to end the season as Dawson’s unit scored 17 offensive points or less in five games that season. Some critical red zone errors against Vanderbilt cost the program a bowl bid.

Stoops decided to move on from Dawson quickly after the season ended. The play-caller landed at Southern Miss and would spend three seasons calling plays under Jay Hopson as the Golden Eagles went 21-16. Dawson’s first win was against Kentucky on the road in a huge upset victory, but the offensive production decreased each year in Hattiesburg.

Dawson then reunited with Holgorsen at Houston and has spent the last four seasons with the Cougars. Houston is preparing to join the Big 12 conference in 2023 as Dawson will finally return to the Power Five. However, that return could come at another school.

Cristobal is vetting numerous candidates as Miami looks for its next play-caller.