Golden makes first 5 hires for Miami staff

Published Dec. 16, 2010 8:38 p.m. ET

foxsports

Al Golden's first wave of staff hirings at Miami were easy. All five worked with the Hurricanes' new coach at Temple.

Golden announced hirings Thursday of defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio, defensive line coach Jethro Franklin and defensive backs coach Paul Williams. They will not begin coaching Miami players until Jan. 1 but have obtained permission from the NCAA to start recruiting immediately.

''I felt it was important that they be able to hit the ground running and start recruiting immediately,'' Golden said in a statement. ''The NCAA waiver gave us that opportunity and should be tremendous benefit.''

In addition to the three assistant coaches, Golden has also hired Tom Deahn as director of football operations and Ryan McNamee as director of player development, the roles they had at Temple.

''On a personal note, they are great friends and coaches that I respect tremendously,'' Golden said. ''They know the type of program we want to run - on and off the field - and could not be more excited about joining the proud tradition at 'The U.'''

Golden was hired Sunday by the Hurricanes and completed the agreement on a five-year contract Tuesday. He has been recruiting and is not expected to see his first Miami practice until Friday or Saturday. Interim head coach Jeff Stoutland, who was Miami's offensive line coach, is leading the Hurricanes through their Dec. 31 appearance in the Sun Bowl against Notre Dame.

''It's a huge game for these kids, for this program,'' Stoutland said after practice Thursday.

Golden is taking over for Randy Shannon, who was fired Nov. 27 after going 28-22 in four seasons.

The hirings mean three current Miami coaches - defensive coordinator John Lovett, defensive line coach Rick Petri and defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff - will not be retained after the Hurricanes face Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31. Corey Bell, who was the football operations director, and football relations director Cindy Abraham-Garcia have left the program.

Stoutland is a candidate to return in 2011, as are several other members of the existing Miami staff, including offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, linebackers coach Micheal Barrow and wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill.

The university said in a statment that Golden has not yet made any other decisions about the remainder of his 2011 staff.