Mario Cristobal graded outside top 10 coaching changes

The hiring of Mario Cristobal as the new head coach for the Miami football program was lauded as a great hire for the Hurricanes. The methodical approach Cristobal has taken to filling out the Miami staff was given a B- by 247 Sports and was ranked 12th among coaching changes nationally for 2022.

Mario Cristobal has hired his former assistants at Oregon, defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal and co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon. Kevin Smith was hired away from Mississippi as the running backs coach. Cristobal was criticized for many positions still being open.

The approach Cristobal took with hiring mostly former Oregon assistants was also questioned. Miami has been able to recruit well despite the staff being about half full. Miami has also lost defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson to Alabama this month. Two potential offensive coordinators reportedly turned down Miami.

Toledo head coach Jason Candle and Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles both reportedly turned down Miami. The Miami offensive coordinator will reportedly be paid around $1.7 million. That is competitive with anyone in college football. The projection by 247 is that their B- grade will improve when the staff is completed.

"12. MIAMI: B-Mario Cristobal is back home at Miami and with boosters promising to flood the program with more money and better facilities, the Hurricanes are in as good of a position to return to prominence than it has at any point in the last 20 years.The problem as we sit here today, however, is that Cristobal’s staff has yet to be set and those who have been brought on board are mostly his confidants at Oregon. This grade will likely change in the coming weeks but the first moves made by Cristobal haven’t made many waves in the industry.Head coach: Mario Cristobal (Oregon, head coach)New staff: Bryan McClendon, receivers/co-offensive coordinator (Oregon, receivers); Alex Mirabal, assistant head coach/offensive line (Oregon, offensive line); Joe Salave’a, defensive line/associate head coach (Oregon, defensive line); Kevin Smith, running backs (Ole Miss, running backs)"

Miami has all three coordinator positions, potential tight ends coach, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties or defensive backs coach open. Some criticism is that despite significantly more money to spend than in past staffs, the waiting to hire coaches could hinder Cristobal. Most of the other new staffs are complete.

Former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning who is succeeding Cristobal at Oregon was ranked as the third-best coaching change for 2022 and an A grade. Billy Napier at Florida with an A+ and former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables at Oklahoma with an A are ranked the top two coaching changes.