Al Golden ( American football ) Alfred James Golden ( born July 4 , 1969 ) is the head football coach at the University of Miami , a position he has held since December 2010 . Prior to joining the University of Miami , he served for five years as defensive coordinator at Virginia and five years as the head coach at Temple . He is also a former tight end for the New England Patriots of the NFL . Playing career . College . Golden was a three - year ( 1989 – 91 ) letterwinner and tight end for Penn State , where he received the 1991 Ridge Riley Award , given annually to a player who displays excellence in scholarship , sportsmanship , friendship and leadership . As a junior in 1990 , Golden played a key role in Penn State ' s nationally - televised 24 – 21 upset of # 1 - ranked Notre Dame at South Bend . His touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter tied the score at 21 as Penn State rallied from a 21 – 7 deficit . Golden was named captain of the Nittany Lion s his senior year and helped lead them to a 42 – 17 win over University of Tennessee in the 1992 Fiesta Bowl , an 11 – 2 record , and a # 3 ranking in the final 1991 AP Poll . Professional . Golden spent the 1992 season in the National Football League with the New England Patriots . Coaching career . Golden began his coaching career in 1993 as offensive coordinator at Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank , New Jersey . He then served as a graduate assistant under George Welsh at University of Virginia from 1994 to 1996 , where he worked primarily with the linebacker s and special teams . He helped develop All - ACC linebackers James Farrior and Jamie Sharper , both of whom were chosen in the 1997 NFL Draft . He then coached linebackers at Boston College from 1997 to 1999 under Tom O ' Brien . While at Boston College , Golden coached All - Big East linebackers Frank Chamberlin and Erik Storz . The Eagles finished the 1999 regular season with an 8 – 3 record and a top - 25 national ranking , while making their first postseason bowl appearance since 1994 . Named defensive coordinator by Virginia head coach Al Groh in 2001 , Golden became the youngest defensive coordinator in Division I - A . He had spent the previous season at his alma mater , Penn State University , serving as linebacker s coach and recruiting coordinator under Joe Paterno . From 2001 to 2004 , the Cavaliers ' defense improved under his tutelage , ranking 108th in total defense in his first year to ranking 18th in total defense in 2004 . In the same time period , Virginia ' s scoring defense went from 74th in the nation ( 27 . 6 ppg ) to 17th ( 17 . 7 ppg ) utilizing Golden ' s 3 – 4 defense . Temple . Golden was named head football coach at Temple University in December 2005 , as the second - youngest head coach in NCAA football at that time , behind Northwestern ' s Pat Fitzgerald . Temple had a record of 3 – 31 during the three years before Golden was hired , and had just been thrown out of the Big East Conference for non - competitiveness . In Golden ' s first three years at the helm , Temple recorded 1 – 11 in 2006 , 4 – 8 in 2007 and then 5 – 7 mark in 2008 . The 2008 record was the best for the program since a 7 – 4 mark in 1990 . The Owls finished the 2009 regular season at 9 – 3 , their first winning season since 1990 . It was also their best record since 1979 , the last time they appeared in a postseason game , before facing the UCLA Bruins in the EagleBank Bowl on December 29 , 2009 . After leading for three quarters , the Owls fell to the Bruins 30 – 21 . Golden was interviewed for the vacant head coach position at UCLA in December 2007 . However , he withdrew his name from consideration on December 26 , 2007 , choosing to stay with the up - and - coming Temple program . Following the 2009 season , he was also a candidate for the head coaching position at the University of Cincinnati vacated by Brian Kelly , who departed for Notre Dame . He later asked that his name be withdrawn from consideration from that position . That same offseason , he was also a candidate for the job at Tennessee vacated by Lane Kiffin , who went to Southern California . In May 2010 , Golden signed a contract extension with Temple through 2014 . He led the Owls to an 8 – 4 record in 2010 . Miami . On December 12 , 2010 , ESPN reported that Golden was offered and accepted the head coaching job at the University of Miami . In press conference remarks upon his hiring on December 13 , 2010 , Golden emphasized the importance of the University of Miami football legacy . " It ' s the most recognizable brand in college football , " he said . " I go back to the former players that are here , the five national championships , 20 national award winners , countless All - Americans , incredible tradition . It ' s a dream job . " Golden signed a five - year contract at an undisclosed salary on December 14 , 2010 . However , due to NCAA rules , Golden did not coach the football team in Miami ' s bowl game against Notre Dame but instead focused on recruiting players for 2011 . 2011 season . Golden posted a 6 – 6 record in his first year at Miami . It was only the third time since 1979 that the program had failed to register a winning record . Despite being bowl - eligible , Miami announced on November 20 that it was withdrawing from bowl consideration due to an ongoing investigation into the program ' s ties to convicted Ponzi scheme er Nevin Shapiro . 2012 season . The Hurricanes registered a 7 - 5 record in 2012 and were in contention for a Coastal Division title for much of the year . However , with the NCAA investigation still not resolved , on November 19 Miami announced it was withdrawing from bowl consideration for a second consecutive season . Reportedly , school officials remembered how Ohio State opted to play in a bowl in the 2011 season with an NCAA investigation still underway only to be banned from bowl consideration the following year . Personal . A native of Colts Neck , New Jersey , Golden graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School , Red Bank , New Jersey , and earned his undergraduate degree in pre - law from Pennsylvania State University in 1991 before receiving his master ’ s in sports psychology from the University of Virginia in December , 1996 . A 2004 inductee of the Jersey Shore Sports Hall of Fame , he is married to Kelly Elizabeth Hanna of Lock Haven , Pennsylvania , and has a son , A . J . , and two daughters , Addison and Grace . Unlike most younger coaches , Golden wears a dress shirt , slacks and a tie on the sidelines .