Miami Hurricanes to lose co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach

Another University of Miami football coach will not be back for the 2023 season.

Linebackers coach Charlie Strong, who also served as UM co-defensive coordinator last season, will not return as a Hurricanes coach, a source confirmed Thursday. Strong told ESPN on Thursday that he was passed over for the defensive coordinator job.

“Coach [Mario] Cristobal and the program made a decision to go in a different direction,” Strong told ESPN. “It’s time for me to go in a different direction.”

Strong, 62, was a former head coach at Louisville and three-time finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant. Before he arrived at UM, Strong served as inside linebackers coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. He also was a defensive coordinator in the SEC for 11 seasons, including winning national championships at UF in 2006 and 2008.

The Hurricanes finished 67th in the FBS in scoring defense this past season, giving up 26.8 points a game. They were 54th in rushing defense, allowing 142.9 ground yards a game.

The Hurricanes are expected to soon announce the hiring of a new defensive coordinator — former Marshall coordinator Lance Guidry, 51, who will take over for Kevin Steele. Steele has returned to Alabama to become its new defensive coordinator.

Cristobal also recently lost the services of quarterbacks coach Frank Ponce, who went back to Appalachian State to become the offensive coordinator. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis recently was fired, and UM has not named his replacement.