February 3, 200620 yr UM receivers coach goes to NFL By Omar Kelly South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted February 3 2006 CORAL GABLES -- On the same day Miami officials signed off on adding Clint Hurtt, a former UM player and graduate assistant to the coaching staff, the Hurricanes lost another of its tenured assistants, this time to the NFL. Receivers coach Curtis Johnson has accepted the same position with the New Orleans Saints, becoming the eighth assistant added to Sean Payton's staff. Payton and Johnson have been friends since their days together as assistants at San Diego State in the early 1990's. Johnson interviewed and accepted the position Thursday. "I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do at the next level," said Johnson, who has sent nine UM receivers to the NFL in 10 seasons, four as first-round picks. Johnson's departure, and the expected hiring of Hurtt, which coach Admin Coker acknowledged during an interview with WQAM (560-AM) on Thursday night, means Coker has four assistant positions to fill after firing five coaches in early January and recently hiring Todd Berry as quarterbacks coach. Another spot on defense will likely be filled in the coming days, according to a UM source. Former Wisconsin assistant head coach John Palermo, who has coached the Badgers' defensive line since 1991, was in Coral Gables interviewing for a position on Thursday and appears to be the front-runner for the remaining defensive spot. It's unclear what role Palermo and Hurtt, who spent last season as defensive line coach at Florida International and the previous four years on UM's coaching staff in various capacities, will serve on the staff at this time.
February 3, 200620 yr THANK GOD!!! This guy is the one who should've been canned, not Kehoe or Soldinger.
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