The first offseason and spring with a new head coaching staff are critical. Since being hired in December, Mario Cristobal has hired an elite coaching staff. Cristobal and his staff have spent the 2022 offseason working on the culture they want to implement and installing their systems throughout the Miami Hurricanes program.
The Miami Hurricanes were named one of five “College football teams that improved most in spring 2022.” by Brad Crawford of 247 Sports. By all accounts, the Miami football program had a successful spring. Miami added four transfers since the start of spring practice in March. Three are potential starters.
Defensive ends Mitchell Agude and Akheem Mesidor and linebacker Caleb Johnson are all projected starters. Defensive tackle Darrel Jackson provides the Miami Hurricanes with exceptional size at 6’6, 300 pounds in the middle of the defensive line. Cristobal has raised the expectations at Miami on and off the field.
When he was hired in December, Cristobal inherited a recruiting class ranked in the 70s. The 247 Sports composite rankings currently have the 2022 Miami class ranked 16th nationally. With a full year of recruiting, Cristobal should be able to average signing a top 10 class annually. The 2022 schedule for Miami is difficult.
Rueben Bain has taken notice of Mario Cristobal’s ELITE coaching staff. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/x45SYOPSkk
— 305 Sports (@305Sportss) May 24, 2022
"MIAMI HURRICANESConsiderable strides were made during spring practice according to first-year Miami coach Mario Cristobal, who has quickly turned this team into a group of believers in South Florida with a first-year staff that…appears to be a grand slam among the teams with a coaching overhaul heading into the 2022 season.Miami has only won 10 games in a single season one time since joining the ACC in 2004 and that’ll be the new annual expectation under the current regime. Miami has everything in place needed to win the ACC Coastal.The Hurricanes finally have who they feel is the right head coach and have shown increased interest from a booster base that supplied the program with funds to well equip Cristobal with the likelihood of immediate success.Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke returns as well and he has already generated first-round buzz in next year’s draft following a marvelous spring. Did we mention enhanced NIL backing that has made national waves? The Hurricanes have enjoyed a splashy offseason and took three steps forward during the spring."
Games at Clemson and Texas A&M this season make achieving 10 wins difficult. Once Cristobal is able to sign his own players, Miami should win 10 games more often than not. Cristobal led Oregon to 10 wins twice in his four seasons. Oregon was 12-2 in 2019 with a Rose Bowl victory and 10-3 in 2021.
With the proximity that Cristobal will have to the best talent in the country in South Florida, Miami should improve significantly in recruiting. Cristobal has proven himself as an elite recruiter as an assistant at Alabama and Oregon and as the Ducks’ head coach. Van Dyke provides Miami with a good foundation for Cristobal in 2022.
The hiring of Cristobal has renewed energy in the fanbase, particularly amongst the ever-important boosters. Cristobal has led the charge for Miami to have upgrades to the football program facilities. Having a good season in 2022 will be important to continue the positive energy for the future of the Miami football program.