Miami football close to mammoth contract with Mario Cristobal per reports
The Miami football program is in the late stages of negotiations for a deal of more than $8 million per year for five years according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich is expected to join Cristobal at Miami per Jackson. Mike Ryan Ruiz of the LeBatard Show is also reporting Cristobal will be hired.
Jackson Tweeted that Cristobal will have a very large budget to hire assistant coaches as has been discussed over the last few days. Cristobal is being given everything he wants if he accepts the job with Miami. According to Jackson, nothing has been signed, yet. Current Miami head coach Manny Diaz has yet to be fired.
Jackson and his Herald colleagues Michelle Kaufman and Susan Miller Degnan reported that part of the reason Cristobal wants to return to Miami was that his mother is very ill. Cristobal flew from Eugene to Miami to visit her last weekend before returning to Oregon. Oregon lost in the Pac 12 Championship on Friday night.
The Ducks were blown out by Utah for the second time in three weeks. The Utes defeated Oregon 38-10 to win their first Pac 23 title. Utah beat Oregon 38-7 in Salt Lake City two weeks ago. Oregon was prevented from winning its third straight Pac 12 Championship with the loss to Utah.
Mario and UM have been in late stages of negotiations for a deal in $8 M a year range for deal longer than 5 years. Radakovich also expected to join Mario here. UM official expect both to come unless somebody "gets cold feet." https://t.co/Egbf2KodD7
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) December 5, 2021
Oregon was criticized by ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit for not giving maximum effort. Some speculation is that the Ducks’ players were distracted by the discussion that Cristobal was considering leaving for Miami. Cristobal has a 35–13 overall record in five seasons with Oregon and 23–10 in the Pac 12.
Previously Cristobal was 27–47 overall and 20–26 in the Sun Belt Conference from 2007-2012 at FIU. Cristobal was the assistant head coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Alabama from 2013 through 2016. This would also be a return to the Miami football staff for Cristobal.
Cristobal began his coaching career as a graduate assistant from 1998 through 2000 as the tight ends coach from 2004 through 2005 and as the offensive line coach in 2006. Prior to becoming a full-time assistant at Miami, Cristobal was the offensive tackles and TEs coach in 2001-2002 and OL coach in 2003 at Rutgers.
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As a player, Cristobal was an OT at Miami from 1998 through 1992. Cristobal played for Hall of Fame coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erikson. Miami won national championships under Erickson in 1989 and 1991 with Cristobal on the OL. Everything regarding Cristobal is evolving as the day goes on Sunday.