Huizenga’s first swing got here with Saban in late 2004, when he efficiently satisfied the 2003 BCS nationwide champion coach to go away the LSU Tigers for the Dolphins head job. Two years later, after going 15-17, Saban returned to school, the place he constructed his legacy as the best coach within the sport’s historical past at Alabama.
His successor, Cameron, impressed as San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator, teaching a top-five scoring unit for 3 consecutive seasons from 2004-06. That made up for a tough five-year stint as Indiana Hoosiers head coach (1997-2001) throughout which he went 18-37, a lot so that he was selected over then-Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin.
“May this factor blow up on us? Possibly,” Huizenga told reporters throughout Cameron’s introductory information convention, an indication of what was to return. The Dolphins went 1-15 in 2008, firing Cameron after one season.
Huizenga’s ultimate rent, Sparano, joined the group with 5 years of head teaching expertise at Division II New Haven and had probably the most success, main the workforce to the playoffs in his first yr. That was the spotlight of his run, nonetheless. Ross fired him in 2011 earlier than the tip of his fourth season.
“I do not assume he was the precise head coach for the Miami Dolphins,” Ross told Dan Le Batard in 2014.
“I did not rent him. We’re a significantly better group immediately than then,” he added.
Whereas Hafley did a good job with the Packers protection, it is honest to marvel if the Dolphins are doomed to repeat their previous errors. It is not as if Hafley set the world on hearth at Boston Faculty. He took over for Steve Addazio, who went 44-44 in seven seasons, together with 6-6 in his ultimate yr, and posted a 22-26 file with one bowl look.
And regardless of Inexperienced Bay rating within the high half of the league in complete and scoring protection beneath his command, it suffered a pointy decline as soon as it misplaced Micah Parsons to a season-ending torn ACL in Week 15, permitting 405.5 yards and 27.5 factors per recreation over their ultimate 4 video games, together with postseason.
Ross’ first 4 hires as proprietor — Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, Mike McDaniel — lacked earlier head-coaching expertise, so it made sense for the group to zag and goal somebody with that on their resume.
However the Dolphins may have discovered somebody with professional expertise — former Buffalo Payments head coach Sean McDermott, maybe — to raised match that want.
The Hafley rent carries loads of danger. Miami’s historical past exhibits having faculty head-coaching expertise is hardly a recipe for fulfillment. And little about Hafley’s run at Boston Faculty instructed he was a can’t-miss teaching prospect, both.
Maybe we’ll be improper. In that case, will probably be a historic second on South Seashore.
