Mario Cristobal isn't going anywhere. Miami has agreed to terms with its head coach on a long-term contract extension. The specific financial terms haven't been disclosed, though Cristobal is expected to get a raise off his current $8 million-a-year salary, with his new pay potentially climbing past $10 million annually once terms are official.
It was also reported that Cristobal plans to make a substantial donation back to the university as part of Miami's broader commitment to athletic excellence, though no specific amount or purpose for that donation has been disclosed. Cristobal is currently entering the fifth year of the 10-year deal he signed when he was hired away from Oregon, which runs through 2031.
NEW: Miami and head coach Mario Cristobal have agreed to a long-term contract extension, @Brett_McMurphy reports🙌 https://t.co/EpTxZf3bmT pic.twitter.com/swzyM8XBbO
— On3 (@On3) August 3, 2026
Miami won a school-record 13 games last season and tied a school record with seven wins over AP Top 25 opponents. That success is part of a run that's produced 23 total wins over the past two years. Cristobal's win totals have climbed in each of his four seasons in Coral Gables, going from 5-7 to 7-6 to 10-3 to 13-3 (35-19 overall). Before Cristobal arrived, Miami had posted exactly one 10-win season in the previous 19 years. The Hurricanes have now done it in back-to-back years.
Coaches giving back is becoming its own trend
Cristobal's planned donation fits into a pattern that's picked up steam across the sport since revenue sharing with players began. Florida State's Mike Norvell committed $4.5 million of his own money to launch the school's Vision of Excellence initiative. When Brian Kelly was at LSU he pledged to personally match up to $1 million in donations to the program's NIL fund and later added another $1 million toward a new training facility.
Oklahoma's Brent Venables took a voluntary $1 million pay cut in 2025 specifically as a one-time contribution to revenue sharing. Even at the Group of Five level, Wyoming's Jay Sawvel cut his own salary by $125,000 in December to help fund player compensation.
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