Miami football gives Mario Cristobal Monday noon deadline head coaching decision

The Miami football program has given Mario Cristobal a noon eastern time deadline to accept or decline an offer to become the Hurricanes head coach according to Sports Illustrated. Cristobal was reportedly offered a five-year contract worth more than $8 million per year. Manny Diaz continues to be the Miami head coach.

Sports Illustrated also reported that a final decision on the new Athletic Director will not be made until the coaching situation is settled. Ross Dellenger of SI reported that if Cristobal chooses to stay at Oregon that Manny Diaz will remain head coach. The Miami Herald reported final details of a contract have been worked out.

There were conflicting reports that Cristobal was meeting with his players on Sunday at 4:30 PM Pacific Time in Eugene before a decision is leaked publically. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported that Cristobal was in San Diego at 1:45 PM PST. It would have been nearly logically impossible to have a 4:30 meeting.

Diaz meanwhile canceled an in-home visit in California on Sunday. The Miami football team and Diaz earned a Sun Bowl berth on Sunday to play Washington State on New Year’s Eve in El Paso. Diaz would presumably not coach in that game. This is the third Sun Bowl berth for Miami. All three could be under interim coaches.

Oregon accepted a bid to the Alamo Bowl on Sunday to play Oklahoma. Cristobal appeared in a zoom meeting with reporters but only answered questions from an Alamo Bowl moderator. Once Miami has stabilized their head coach, Clemson AD Dan Radakovich is the expected lead candidate to accept the same position with Miami.

A combination of Cristobal and Radakovich would provide Miami with one of the most high-powered ADs and football head coaches in the country. Radakovich is expected to receive a contract of about $3 million per year that would make him the highest-paid AD in the country.