Clint Hurtt enters his third season as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater.
Hurtt has quickly proven to be one of the top young recruiters in college football as he has signed the top class in the Atlantic Coast Conference the last two seasons. Behind his guidance and efforts, Miami's 2008 signing class ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN.com as he coordinated the recruiting efforts. The Hurricanes' 2009 class ranked in the top 10 as Miami signed six players ranked in the ESPN.com Top 150.
Hurtt coached some of the top young defensive line talent in the country in 2008. Freshmen Marcus Robinson and Marcus Forston earned Freshman All-America honors. Three defensive lineman were among Miami's top 10 tacklers and the defensive line accounted for 20.5 (66 percent) of Miami's 31 sacks, which was fifth in the ACC.
In 2007, the Miami defensive line featured Arizona Cardinals' second-round selection Calais Campbell. Campbell ranked third on the team with 85 tackles from his defensive end spot. Senior Vegas Franklin had his best season as a Hurricane, leading the team with seven sacks and ranking second with 11.5 tackles for loss.
UM's defensive line tallied 27.5 sacks while Miami's defense led the ACC
Hurtt returned to his alma mater in 2006 after one season as the defensive line coach at Florida International. The 2006 Hurricanes' defense set a school record for allowing the fewest rushing yards in a season -- 67.9 yards per game, breaking the previous mark of 69.1 yards per game set in 1989.
One of three former Hurricanes players on the current UM coaching staff, Hurtt was a three-year letterman for the Hurricanes as a defensive lineman. He signed with UM in 1997 and played extensively as a freshman before redshirting in 1998 to recover from an injury. Hurtt returned to the lineup and saw extensive action in 1999 and 2000 before an injury prior to the 2001 season ended his playing career. After the injury, Hurtt joined the Hurricanes staff as a volunteer assistant on the strength and conditioning staff. In 2003, he was named a graduate assistant and worked with the defensive line for two seasons.
In his only season at FIU, Hurtt was responsible for grooming 2005 Lombardi Award Watch List candidate Antwan Barnes from linebacker to defensive end, where he earned First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors, averaging one sack per game.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Hurtt had an outstanding prep career at Milford (Conn.) Academy. He graduated from the University of Miami in 2001 with a degree in criminology and liberal arts. His father, Clinton, played for the New York Jets and Baltimore Colts.
He and his wife, Tanisha, have a daughter Taylor Destinee.
Hurtt At A Glance
Personal Information Full Name: Clinton Thomas Hurtt Birthdate: November 7, 1978 Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. Education: Bachelor of liberal arts (criminology),
University of Miami (2001) Wife: Tanisha Children: Daughter Taylor Destinee
Hurtt's Coaching Career 2007-present: University of Miami (Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator) 2006: University of Miami (Assistant Defensive Line) 2005: Florida International University (Defensive Line) 2003-04: University of Miami (Graduate Assistant) 2001-02: University of Miami (Volunteer Strength and Conditioning Coach)
Bowl Games as a Coach (6)
2008 Emerald Bowl
2006 MPC Computers Bowl
2004 Peach Bowl
2004 Orange Bowl
2003 Fiesta Bowl
2002 Rose Bowl
Bowl Games as a Player (3)
2001 Sugar Bowl
2000 Gator Bowl
1998 MicronPC Bowl
Coaching Accomplishments
• Coached freshmen Marcus Forston and Marcus Robinson to Freshman All-America honors in 2008
• Coached Miami's defensive tackles in 2006, as the team's run defense set a school record, allowing only 67.9 yards rushing per game
• At FIU in 2005, coached Lombardi Award Watch List candidate Antwan
Barnes who was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference first team
• Spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons at Miami as a graduate assistant coach, working with the defensive linemen
• Because of a 2001 injury, finished his senior season as a volunteer coach at Miami
Honors as a Player
• Three-year letterman at Miami
• Played in 24 games as a defensive lineman from 1997 to 2000
Prominent Players Coached
• Baraka Atkins (Miami) - Seattle Seahawks
• Antwan Barnes (FIU) - Baltimore Ravens
• Kareem Brown (Miami) - New York Jets
• Calais Campbell (Miami) - Arizona Cardinals
• Antonio Dixon (Miami) - Washington Redskins
• Orien Harris (Miami) - New Orleans Saints
• Damione Lewis (Miami) - Carolina Panthers
• Santonio Thomas (Miami) - New England Patriots
• Vince Wilfork (Miami) - New England Patriots
