Miami Completes Its Coaching Staff

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen will resume his role as offensive coordinator for the 2007 season, a school spokesman confirmed yesterday.

NCAA rules prohibit football staffs from having more than nine assistants, and because Friedgen hired Kevin Lempa to replace former secondary coach Tim Banks, who left to become defensive coordinator at Central Michigan, there are no vacancies left on staff.

___
North Carolina was the surprise winner of the ACC recruiting race this year, so it's no surprise that the Tar Heels have two coaches on Rivals.com's list of top 10 recruiters in the conference.

Led by linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen, the North Carolina staff had a breakthrough year.

Thigpen recruited UNC's biggest signee in years in defensive tackle Marvin Austin who had widely been thought to be going to the Noles. Thigpen also had a hand in landing Ryan Houston, Albert Craddock and Quantavius Sturdivant. Thigpen's efforts played a big part in facilitating a smooth transition from John Bunting to Butch Davis.
___
Coach Randy Shannon completed his 2007 coaching staff with the hiring of former Hurricanes All-American linebacker Micheal Barrow as linebackers coach and Wesley McGriff as secondary coach. In addition, Tom Walton, who was the team's defensive backs coach the last three seasons, has been promoted to defensive coordinator.

Micheal Barrow,36, played for the Hurricanes from 1989-92 and was named All-American in 1992. He was the middle linebacker on national championship teams in 1989 and 1991. He was a Butkus Award runnerup in 1992 and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting that season. He was also the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and finished his career as the third-leading tackler in school history.

Wesley McGriff was considered one of the Big 12's top recruiters. McGriff comes to Miami after a few weeks on the staff at Kansas State and four years at Baylor, where he served as recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach under Guy Morriss. An extremely versatile coach, McGriff has mentored players on both sides of the ball during his 17-year career, including two stints as a defensive coordinator.