Miami announces former Auburn football assistant Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator
AUBURN — Miami football officially announced that it has hired former Auburn assistant coach Kevin Steele as its defensive coordinator Wednesday.
Steele was Auburn's defensive coordinator from 2016-20. After the firing of Gus Malzahn, Steele was the interim head coach and reportedly the favorite candidate among a number of boosters to succeed Malzahn for the full-time position. But Auburn hired Bryan Harsin, who did not retain Steele.
Miami's announcement comes as Auburn weighs the future of Harsin, who finished 6-7 in his first season ending on a five-game losing streak. Harsin's mentality that led to extensive coach and player turnover and his poor recruiting are among the issues under the microscope.
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Steele was set to become Maryland's defensive coordinator before taking the Miami job.
"A Miami Hurricanes defense should always be defined by its physicality and toughness, which are two traits of every Kevin Steele-coached defense,” new Miami coach Mario Cristobal said in a school release. "Coach Steele has recruited, developed and produced at an elite level at every stop of his career."
Tennessee hired Steele on Jan. 12, 2021, to a two-year deal worth $450,000 annually. Steele joined then-coach Jeremy Pruitt's staff as a defensive assistant. UT fired Pruitt for cause six days later amid an investigation into sweeping recruiting malfeasance alleged to have occurred under his watch, and Tennessee named Steele acting head coach.
He wasn't retained by new coach Josh Heupel. UT owed him as much as $860,870 in severance, according to his separation agreement.
Under the terms of Steele's buyout, he was due to receive his severance in monthly installments throughout the end of his contract, set to expire Jan. 31, 2023.
Steele had a duty to mitigate the damages and now with Miami hiring him, it means his salary in the new job will defray what UT owes.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Miami officially hires former Auburn football assistant Kevin Steele
