Mario Cristobal projected 9th best path to success among new HC
Mario Cristobal is one of 29 head coaches in new positions in the Football Bowl Subdivision for the 2022 season. Mike Huguenin of On3.Com ranked “The new coaches: Who has the toughest job this fall – and the easiest?” from one through 29. Huguenin rated “ow tough each new guy has it this fall.”
The rankings are “not meant as a predictor of eventual success or the relative merits of a job or a comparison of jobs.” per Huguenin. Mario Cristobal takes over at Miami after leading Oregon to a 35-13 record in the last four years. The Ducks’ average recruiting class ranked 10.5 nationally during their four years under Cristobal.
Miami had an average class of 11.75 between 2018 and 2021. Mario Cristobal led Miami to sign the 16th best class in 2022 with an extremely late start in the cycle. When Cristobal was hired in December, the 2022 Miami class ranked in the 70s. Miami finished with the 16th best 2022 class.
Entering the 2022 season expectations for Cristobal and the Miami football team are high. The 2022 season could be when the ACC uses the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions. The ACC Championship game would be the top two finishers in a 14-team conference, similar to the 2020 season.
"21. MiamiFormer coach: Manny DiazThe new guy: Mario CristobalThe skinny: Miami won the 2001 national title, played for the title in ’02 and went to the Orange Bowl in ’03. But that ’03 season was the last time the Hurricanes finished in the top 10, which means that current high school recruits have zero first-hand knowledge of how dominant UM used to be.Cristobal is taking over an OK program, but one a long way from being elite. Consider: The Hurricanes have been in the ACC for 18 seasons but have played in the league championship game just once (a 35-point loss to Clemson in 2017).Cristobal’s recruiting acumen will mean a quick talent infusion; the key then becomes developing that talent and challenging for ACC titles – which shouldn’t be as difficult as it has been for the Hurricanes. This season, Cristobal has a developing star at quarterback in Tyler Van Dyke and a nice group of running backs.But the line play needs to improve on both sides of the ball."
Miami had the 13th most talented roster in college football in 2021 per the 247 Sports rankings. Cristobal has hired an elite staff that has excelled as recruiters. The challenge for Miami will be developing the talent. Miami has added 11 transfers in addition to signing the 16th best freshman class for 2022.
Several of the 2022 signees committed to Miami because of Cristobal. Miami will enter the 2022 season as the likely co-favorite to win the Coastal with defending ACC Champion Pittsburgh. Cristobal led Oregon to three Pac 12 North titles, two conference titles a Rose Bowl win and Fiesta Bowl appearance in four seasons.
Next. Miami will start almost entirely new 2022 defense. dark
The expectations for Miami under Cristobal will be at least what he accomplished as head coach at Oregon. Miami fans have been waiting for nearly 20 years for a return to the elite of college football. The high school talent in South Florida provides Cristobal with a chance to build one of the most talented rosters nationally.