OxfordPress.com

OXFORD — For the first time in 19 years Miami University doesn't have a clear idea of who will carry on the football team's Cradle of Coaches tradition.

Athletic Director Brad Bates announced the resignation of head coach Shane Montgomery on Saturday, Nov. 29, and unlike the school's last two coaching changes, there is no heir apparent this time.

"Our search process will begin immediately and move swiftly, yet deliberately," Bates said.

Bates said there might be certain benefits to choosing someone with a Miami background.

"I think at any university, whenever you can hire from within the family that's an advantage," he said. "If all else is equal, if you have someone who is an alum, you have an immediate connection with the fan base.

"I think it's exacerbated with the Cradle of Coaches and the great coaches that have gone before," Bates said. "The majority of the successful ones have been Miami grads ... If all else is equal, and that person happens to be a Miami alum, that would be fantastic, but we've got to get the right person."

When Randy Walker left Miami for Northwestern in 1998, defensive coordinator Terry Hoeppner was a conveniently obvious choice to step in.

Ditto in 2004 when offensive coordinator Montgomery was announced as Hoeppner's replacement just prior to the Independence Bowl.

One thing is certain. Before the actual search process comes the speculation. Names of attractive candidates already have been tossed about.

Names like Danny Barrett, assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo.

Or Kerry Coombs, the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati and former Colerain High School coach whose son, Brayden, plays for the RedHawks.

Or Miami graduates who are assistant coaches elsewhere, such as Bobby Johnson (Indiana), James Patton (Oklahoma), Mark Staten (Michigan State) and Don Treadwell (Michigan State).

Staff writer John Bombatch contributed

to this story.