Podcast: Miami’s shocking offensive coordinator hire and what’s next for the Canes’ staff

Mario Cristobal is making changes and the latest one could be huge.

Shannon Dawson is the Miami Hurricanes’ new offensive coordinator and it’s a major pivot from Cristobal’s traditional way of thinking.

On a new episode of Eye on the U podcast, David Wilson and Susan Miller Degnan, the Miami Herald’s Hurricanes beat writer, break down the hire and what to expect from Dawson, who has typically run an air raid offense in his previous stops.

Is Cristobal really going to embrace the air raid? It’s hard to imagine he will go all in on the off-beat offense, but it does at least prove he’s not totally stuck in his ways. If he can find a way to blend his old-school sensibilities in the trenches with some more innovative thinking on the edges of the field, Cristobal could put together a fascinating, one-of-a-kind offensive system in Coral Gables.

It’s going to take some creative thinking, though, and Cristobal at least has a long enough leash to try something different after a disastrous debut season at his alma mater. The results could be game-changing.

The coach still has a few more vacancies to fill, too, after losing his running backs coach, wide receivers coach and linebackers coach in the last month. His hires in these spots could have a massive effect on Miami’s recruiting efforts and the cohesiveness of the staff.

College baseball season is also here and Degnan wraps things up by giving a few reasons to be excited about the No. 22 Hurricanes as they kick off another quest for a College World Series, starting with All-American relief pitcher Andrew Walters and star third baseman Yohandy Morales.

As always, thanks for listening and please continue to rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.