Adam Rittenberg of ESPN has Mario Cristobal 20th in his "Ranking all college football head coaches as players" posted on Monday. Cristobal played for Miami from 1989 through 1992 and won two national championships.
Cristobal was ranked in the category "The 30 best" as determined by Rittenberg. Cristobal is one of a few current FBS head coaches that won National Championships as players. That list includes Scott Frost of Central Florida, who won a national championship at Nebraska and Dabo Swinney, who played at Alabama.
Cristobal has spoken about what he has learned playing for Miami and how that relates to the culture he wants to set as the head coach. Playing under Hall of Fame head coaches Jimmy Johnson and then Dennis Erickson and behind legendary Miami players gave Cristobal multiple perspectives on how to be successful.
Cristobal was a four-year letterman with Miami and he earned all-Big East in 1992 protecting Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Gino Torretta. Cristobal began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Miami under Butch Davis from 1998 through 2000.
"20. Mario Cristobal, Miami Hurricanes: He was a first-team All-Big East offensive lineman who helped Miami to national titles in 1989 and 1991. Cristobal earned four letters at The U and then spent a season as a Denver Broncos free agent and two in NFL Europe with Amsterdam."Adam Rittenberg, ESPN
Cristobal played for Amsterdam in their inaugural season as a franchise when they finished 9-1 and lost in World Bowl III. Cristobal played only one other season with Amsterdam as the Admirals finished 5-5 in 1996. The 1996 season with Amsterdam was the end of Cristobal's playing career.
Miami has been adept at signing blue-chip offensive linemen during Cristobal's tenure. Cristobal and OL coach Alex Mirabal, teammates at Miami Columbus, are regarded as among the best developers of players at the position in college football. Offensive lineman playing for Cristobal know he understands playing the position for Miami.
Defensive line coach Damione Lewis and wide receivers coach Kevin Beard join Cristobal on the Miami staff as former Hurricanes who had outstanding collegiate careers. Having Beard and Lewis on the Miami staff helps Cristobal set the culture he wants on the Greentree Practice Field.