OPINION: As Cristobal embarks on Miami defensive coordinator search, there is one name that should be at the top of the list

Let’s start by pointing out that he may not want the job.

Clint Hurtt has traveled miles since he was last seen at the University of Miami, his alma mater, in 2009.

He has been to Louisville, where he almost single-handedly recruited the nucleus of the Cardinals’ high quality teams under Charlie Strong. He has coached the defensive line and linebackers with the Chicago Bears for four years. From 2017-2023 he was in Seattle with the Seahawks, rising to defensive coordinator in the 2023 season. Now he is the defensive line coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He might just be an NFL guy at this point of his career. But maybe not. Maybe he can emerge as Mario Cristobal’s latest prize recruit and be enticed to be part of the solution that everyone hopes continues on an upward trajectory toward the Miami Hurricane program reclaiming its former glory.

Assistant Head Coach Clint Hurtt has a nice ring to it.

Hurtt would give Cristobal everything he needs – a powerful presence on the field and in the locker room, a mentor for the players in his room, an elite recruiter to help take some of the load off Cristobal.

His 11 years in the NFL have undoubtedly given Hurtt the technical foundation to scheme up and call the defense for Miami. His impeccable communication skills would likely go a long way toward solving a lot of the problems we saw on the field this season for the Hurricanes.

The biggest hurdle would be what happened back in the Nevin Shapiro fiasco at Miami, where Hurtt got caught up in some of the violations that the NCAA uncovered back then. The NCAA said Hurtt received a $2,500 loan from Shapiro and provided perks to Hurricanes recruits and provided false and misleading information during its investigation of Miami. They said he provided impermissible benefits by arranging for Shapiro to buy meals for recruits and gave rides and housing to some recruits totaling $3,315 between 2006 and 2009.

Hurtt paid his price for the Shapiro mistakes back then as did many others. So did Miami. The case has been and should be closed.

Miami’s defense was a mess this season. The Hurricanes allowed an average of 30.6 points and 363.4 yards over the eight conference games … and then 42 points in the Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State. For perspective, the ACC numbers would have ranked No. 106 and No. 63 in the nation compared to other teams’ entire seasons, respectively.

There was a lot of confusion. Too often Miami players clearly did not have a grasp for their assignments. There were way too many busts and wasted time outs.

Miami got stampeded by the run to the tune of 271 yards at Georgia Tech and through the air at Syracuse (380 yards). In the bowl game, Iowa State put up 415 yards of offense but more significantly controlled the way the game was played, particularly in the second half when Dawson went almost exclusively to the run game, never got Emory Williams into a rhythm and things disintegrated into a one-point Miami loss that has created a bit of state of panic heading into the off-season.

Had Miami played better defense, the Hurricanes would have been unbeaten, likely ACC Champions and in a great position in the college football playoff.

Guidry paid the price for that Tuesday when he was fired. Cristobal didn’t have a choice.

Now he does have a choice again, but he is hiring his third defensive coordinator in four years after Kevin Steele and Guidry couldn’t get the job done consistently. This hire is critical, has to count.

Cristobal is not going to find any guarantees out there. Those never exist. But he can find someone who he knows he can count on, who can bring so many things he needs to improve his staff to the table.

Clint Hurtt would be that guy.

In the 2023 season, Hurtt directed a Seahawks defense that produced the fifth-most forced fumbles (31, tied), eighth-best sack rate (8.1 pct.), and 10th-most sacks (92, tied) in the league from 2022-23. His unit featured three Pro Bowlers in linebacker Bobby Wagner, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and safety Julian Love. Wagner, a second-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press, led the NFL with a team-record-tying 183 tackles in his 12th season. Witherspoon, who earned PFWA All-Rookie honors, finished with the fifth-most passes defended (16) in the league while tallying 79 tackles, three sacks, and one interception returned for a touchdown. In his first year in Seattle, Love made 110 tackles with career highs in passes defended (10) and interceptions (four).

Leading significant changes to the Seahawks’ scheme in the switch to a 3-4 defense, Hurtt’s first season as defensive coordinator resulted in an improved pass rush, increasing Seattle’s sack production from 34 in 2021 to 45 in 2022 (tied for seventh in the NFL). Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and defensive end Darrell Taylor were the only pair of NFL teammates to each register at least nine sacks and three forced fumbles that year.

Hurtt moved to Philadelphia after Pete Carroll’s coaching tenure ended in Seattle.

Maybe it can be converted into a temporary move East.