The resignation of Jim Larranaga was tough for the Miami Hurricanes community. As the head basketball coach Larranaga was one of the major faces for Miami. Mario Cristobal assumes the mantle of being the main face for Miami as the head football coach until a successor for Larranaga is hired in the spring.
Cristobal was hired in December 2021. Larranaga was a month into his 11th season as Miami head coach when Cristobal was hired. Miami was 6-3 after a win over Clemson to begin the ACC basketball season two days before Cristobal was hired. That was in the midst of a nine game Miami winning streak after starting 4-3.
Cristobal and Larranaga both have a love for Miami. Cristobal won two national championships as a player with Miami from 1988 through 1992. Larranaga had his dream of being a head coach in the ACC realized in 2012 when he was hired to replace Frank Haith who left to become the head coach at Missouri.
Larranaga led Miami to accomplishments that never previously occurred at Miami. Miami won the first ACC regular season championship and followed it up with the first conference tournament title in school history. Marquette ended the dream season for Miami in the NCAA East Regional Semifinals.
Mario Cristobal on the retirement of Miami coach Jim Larrañaga: "Love and respect to him. I mean, he's iconic. He is legendary. ... He will be missed tremendously. And I'm going to raid his roster for tight ends and defensive ends."
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) December 27, 2024
(He was joking on the last part. We think.)
" Love and respect him...he is iconic. He is legendary....put that program on his back and went to work. He will be missed tremendously. I'm going to raid his roster for tight ends and defensive ends. I think he's an exceptional human being. I look forward to getting with him and picking his brain on leadership and on team building and culture and getting him over and having him in front of the guys. I know he always want to be involved in the University of Miami. But you couldn't ask for a better human being and for a leader for our program and young men than Coach L. Coach L., love to you, man...really appreciate everything you've done for community, for program, for the University of Miami."Mario Cristobal via Inside the U
Christopher Stock of Inside the U transcribed Cristobal's complete press conference for the Pop-Tarts Bowl. In his first 16 months after returning to Miami, Cristobal saw Larranaga turn around a tough start for Miami in 2021-22 to the first Regional Final Appearance in school history to the only Final Four a year later.
With their Cuban roots and love of coaching and Miami as the leaders of the marquee programs for the Hurricanes, Cristobal and Larranaga had the same vision of wanting success for the U. Larranaga stated in his press conference on Thursday to discuss his resignation he would like to stay involved with the University of Miami.
Cristobal clearly stated he would like to work with Larranaga and have him serve as a mentor and speaker to Miami. Larranaga will remain one of the most iconic figures in the history of Miami athletics forever. Larranaga holds the Miami records of coaching in 448 games, having 274 wins and 174 losses.
Mario Cristobal on Jim Larrañaga: "Man, that was a hard one. Love and respect him. He is iconic. He is legendary. Certainly put that program on his back and went to work. He will be missed tremendously. I'm going to raid his roster for tight ends."
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) December 27, 2024
The .612 winning percentage by Larranaga is second in Miami history. Bruce Hale who won 220 games and lost 112 has the highest winning percentage in Miami history at .663 from 1955 through 1967. Hale coached the unquestionable best player in Miami history Rick Barry during his tenure,
Bill Courtney has been named the interim head coach for Miami for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Athletic Director Dan Radakovich stated a national search will begin to replace Larranaga. The Miami basketball program has become an attractive destination because of Larranaga.
Radakovich and staff have the next two to three months to evaluate potential head coaches. Cristobal will have an opportunity to welcome the new coach as he enters his fourth off-season back in Miami. Radakovich will face of his most critical hires during his Miami tenure that began shortly after Cristobal was hired in December 2021.