In 1988, he began his tenure with the
University of Miami, under then-head coach
Jimmy Johnson and his successor,
Dennis Erickson. He was their defensive line coach for four of those years, in which
he coached eight All-Americans (including NFL first-round draft choices Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp). While he was with the Hurricanes, the program won two national championships (in 1989 and 1991), and he recruited a young
Dwayne Johnson (later known as "The Rock" in his professional wrestling and film careers) as a defensive lineman.
[5]
Starting in 1991, a series of personal problems began to surface for Orgeron. A local woman filed a restraining order against Orgeron, accusing him of repeatedly attacking her. In July 1992, Orgeron was arrested for his part in a bar fight in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Orgeron acknowledged he had been intoxicated that night and had grown angry when not allowed back inside to retrieve his credit card.
[6] In October 1992, Orgeron took a
leave of absence from the University of Miami coaching staff for personal reasons; the departure turned out to be a permanent one, however and he was replaced by assistant coach
Randy Shannon.
[7] Taking a respite from coaching, Orgeron worked on his personal life: the permanent injunction against him was eventually rescinded and the felony second-degree battery charges he faced were dropped.
[6] He stayed with his parents in Larose, crediting his father for helping him get his life in order.
[8]
Yes [my dismissal was necessary]. It led to a turnaround in my lifestyle. That's something that had to be done in my life, where I just [could feel] comfortable with what I'm doing today.
— Ed Orgeron on his 1992 dismissal by Miami.[6]
I am sold. Come on down Eddie
