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ESPN’s Butch Davis, Former UNC Football Coach, Hired As New FIU Coach

ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Butch Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the LSU Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Former Miami and North Carolina coach Butch Davis told ESPN on Monday that he is leaving the network immediately to become head football coach at Florida International University.

ESPN’s Butch Davis, Former UNC Football Coach, Hired As New FIU Coach

FIU Panthers athletic director Pete Garcia confirmed the news Monday.

The University signed Davis, 64, to a five-year contract. Salary details were not released, but a Tuesday press conference was called to introduce the new head coach.

“To say we are excited to have Butch Davis as our head coach at FIU is an understatement,” Garcia said. “There is no doubt that he will take FIU football to new heights.”

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Davis, who hasn’t been a full-time coach since he was fired by UNC in July 2011, is currently working as a college football analyst for ESPN2.

Davis had reportedly attempted to get back into coaching previously, but his age and past allegations at North Carolina– which included improper benefits and academic misconduct– apparently dissuaded other athletic directors from hiring him.

Garcia, nevertheless, has a relationship with Davis dating back to their days at the University of Miami.

The FIU head coaching job, currently held on an interim basis by Ron Cooper, had been considered open since Ron Turner was fired following an 0-4 start.

Cooper, who has gone 3-3 as interim coach, will remain in place for the final two games of this season.

Davis spent six seasons as Miami’s coach from 1995 to 2000, then left for the Cleveland Browns– thus stepping away from a Hurricanes team that dominated its way to the 2001 national championship under Larry Coker.

FIU went to bowl games in 2010 and 2011 under Mario Cristobal, who was fired in 2012 and is now an Alabama assistant. The Panthers have not been bowl-eligible since, going 16-42 since Cristobal’s dismissal.

Some Miami fans lobbied openly last year for the Hurricanes to hire Davis, who stated that he wanted to be considered.

Former wide receiver Tony Gaiter III, who played for Davis at Miami, said last week that he believes his old coach will do a great job at FIU.

“I would love [to bring Davis here],” said Gaiter, who son, Gaiter IV, is an FIU freshman wide receiver.

“Give Butch some time, and he will turn things around.”

ATLANTA – SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Butch Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels against the LSU Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Georgia Dome on September 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.