CORAL GABLES, Fla. — His voice nearly cracking, Miami athletic director Kirby Hocutt somberly laid out some of the many reasons why Randy Shannon was right for the Hurricanes.

The academic success. Improved recruiting classes. His decades as part of the Miami family.

Then there were 22 reasons that Hocutt couldn’t ignore — the games Miami lost under Shannon. In the end, those carried more weight than anything else.

A coach who left an indelible mark on Miami’s past will not be part of its future, and the Hurricanes started the process of moving on Sunday, with former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland taking over on an interim basis, and players gathering for a tearful meeting.

“Change is difficult and change is hard,” Hocutt said Sunday. “But change, sometimes, it’s necessary. And this time, this change was necessary.”

Hocutt’s firing of Shannon surprised some Miami players. Hocutt’s next move might be even more shocking.

A person with knowledge of Miami’s search told The Associated Press on Sunday night that Jon Gruden received “parameters” of an offer from the Hurricanes. The ESPN analyst and former Tampa Bay and Oakland coach is atop Miami’s wish list, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Gruden — who signed a lucrative extension with the Buccaneers through the 2011 season and is still collecting an estimated $5 million annually from that deal — issued a statement through ESPN late Sunday, saying “I am committed to ‘Monday Night Football’ and to ESPN.” He added that he enjoys being in the booth.