Oregon cornerbacks coach Rod Chance, a St. Thomas Aquinas alum and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal who graduated from Miami Columbus like new head coach Mario Cristobal will potentially join the new Miami football staff according to Andrew Ivins of Inside the U. Chance and Mirabal have both assisted Cristobal since 2018.
After playing at St. Thomas Aquinas, Chance played four seasons at FCS Rhode Island. According to his Oregon biography, Chance had 138 tackles, six interceptions and nine pass breakups in his final three seasons with the Rams. Chance just finished his second stint at Oregon. He was a defensive analyst in 2018.
After one season as the CBs coach at Minnesota, Chance return to Eugene in 2020. Chance began his career as the defensive backs, special teams and wide receivers coach at Alpharetta High School outside Atlanta. The collegiate coaching career for Chance began as the Rhode Island CBs coach in 2009.
After one season with the Rams from 2013-15 Chance was a defensive quality control assistant with Vanderbilt. Chance left Vanderbilt and from 2016-17 was defensive coordinator for FCS Southern Utah. Chance is an excellent recruiter. Three 2021 four-star Oregon signees and one in 2020 were credited to Chance.
The deal Mario Cristobal signed with Miami this morning is 10 years, $8 million per season with significant investments for support staff, assistant coaches, recruiting. Miami will have the highest assistant coaching pool in the ACC, a source said. @TheAthleticCFB
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) December 6, 2021
Mirabal began his coaching career at Columbus as a volunteer offensive line coach for six years and helped in other sports. Mirabal was the Junior Varsity head coach at Columbus in 1994-95 and the strength and conditioning coordinator from 1996-2001. He was also running backs and OL coach during his tenure at Columbus.
Mirabal began his collegiate coaching career under Cristobal from 2007 through 2009 as the assistant head coach of tight ends from 2010 through 2012 with FIU. From 2010-2012, Mirabal was the assistant head coach and OL coach with FIU. After Cristobal was fired, Mirabal became the OL coach at Marshall from 2010-2012.
Cristobal and Mirabal were reunited at Oregon in 2018. Mirabal coached guards and centers with the Ducks from 2018 through 2020. This season, Mirabal was elevated to associate head coach and OL coach with the Ducks. Mirabal is an elite recruiter ranking 13th overall nationally in the 2022 recruiting cycle.
Chance and Mirabal are natural fits for the Cristobal Staff Miami football staff. They will not have to assimilate to South Florida. One of the benefits that are expected with Cristobal becoming the Miami head coach is that the recruiting is expected to improve. The Hurricanes currently have the 51st ranked class with just nine commits.