Nov 19, 2015 12:59 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

One of the premier college football programs in the nation, the University of Miami (UM) announced this week it commissioned a search committee to look for a new head coach.

UM Director of Athletics Blake James, made the announcement Monday in a news release, revealing the search committee would include former Hurricanes football players. Joining UM Board of Trustees members Hilarie Bass, David Epstein and Steve Saiontz, and Deputy Director of Athletics Jennifer Strawley on the committee will be Jonathan Vilma and Vinny Testaverde.

Testaverde played for the Hurricanes from 1983 to 1986 and won the Heisman Trophy in his final season, before being drafted into the NFL first overall the next year. Vilma was an inside linebacker at UM from 2000 to 2003 and was selected 12th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and helped the New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV.

"We are well underway in our search process," James said in the release, "and, as expected, there is already a tremendous amount of interest in The U.  Additionally, we are reaching out to a number of UM constituencies to engage in dialogue and to hear their thoughts and vision.  We will work diligently to find a great fit for Miami and I want to thank in advance the members of the advisory committee for their dedication to our University."

But assisting the UM personnel will be the Korn Ferry search firm, the same one that brought Charlie Strong from Louisville to Texas, USA Today noted. Strong addressed the rumors linking him to the UM vacancy after practice Wednesday, expressing commitment to rebuilding Texas' football program, ESPN reported.

Like Texas, UM could probably afford to pluck a "big name" coach from another program, whether it winds up being Strong or someone else. In addition to the names that are brought up in every coaching search (Greg Schiano, primarily), a lot of candidates may be in play for UM, at least early on.

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