Diaz Is Done, Cristobal To Canes

Mario Cristobal is coming home to Miami.

Cristobal, who helped lead the University of Miami to national championships in 1989 and 1991 as a standout offensive lineman, has been named the University’s 26th football head coach, President Julio Frenk announced today.

One of college football’s most highly regarded coaches, Cristobal returns to his alma mater after leading the University of Oregon to three straight Pac-12 Conference championship game appearances and two Pac-12 titles. He is the only coach in the nation whose team has played in a Power Five conference championship game in each of the past three seasons.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Mario, his wife, Jessica, and their sons Mario Mateo and Rocco home to Miami,” Frenk said. “Mario’s legacy as a student-athlete at the U is well established. And the standard for competitive excellence that he and his teammates helped establish is one to which we continue to aspire. Our selection, however, was not one based in nostalgia for a proud past, but rather in a bold vision for a promising future.

“The characteristics that helped Mario excel as a national championship-winning player—drive, determination, and discipline—continue to propel his success as a coach. In Mario we have found a head coach who shares our belief in providing student-athletes with the very best opportunities to succeed on and off the field, and our commitment to winning at the highest level.”

“My family and I are excited to return home to the University of Miami, which has been so instrumental in shaping me as a person, player, and coach,” Cristobal said. “This program has an unparalleled tradition and an exciting future ahead of it. I can’t wait to compete for championships and help mold our student-athletes into leaders on and off the field who will make our University, our community, and our loyal fan base proud.”

Cristobal brings more than 20 years of FBS coaching experience to Coral Gables, including 10 as a head coach. He compiled a 35-13 record at Oregon, leading the Ducks to consecutive Pac-12 titles in 2019 and 2020. Oregon advanced to three straight conference championship games from 2019 to 2021 and earned bowl-game appearances in each of Cristobal’s seasons in Eugene, highlighted by a Rose Bowl victory that capped a 12-win season and No. 5 ranking in the final Associated Press and AFCA Coaches polls in 2019. Cristobal was named the Associated Press Pac-12 Coach of the Year for his efforts that season.

Considered one of the country’s elite recruiters and evaluators of talent, Cristobal, during his tenures at both Alabama and Oregon, helped assemble national top-15 recruiting classes eight straight years, with seven of those classes rated in the top 10. The 2018 class at Alabama produced three NFL first-round draft picks. At Oregon, he constructed the Pac-12’s top-rated recruiting classes in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Cristobal’s national title-winning pedigree isn’t limited to his time as a player. At Alabama, where he served as assistant head coach, offensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator, he helped lead the Crimson Tide to the national championship in 2015 and a runner-up finish the following season.

During his four years in Tuscaloosa, from 2013 to 2016, five Alabama offensive linemen were selected in the NFL Draft and, with Cristobal’s tutelage, the 2015 offensive line unit won the inaugural Joe Moore Award, given to the most outstanding offensive line unit in the nation.

Cristobal’s move to Miami brings his coaching career full circle. A son of South Florida who played prep football at nearby Christopher Columbus High School, he launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Miami from 1998 to 2000 under head coach Butch Davis. He served as an assistant coach at Rutgers from 2001 to 2003 and then returned to Miami as an assistant coach from 2004 to 2006 under head coach Larry Coker.

In 2007, Cristobal was named head coach at Florida International University, becoming the first Cuban American head coach in FBS history. He inherited a struggling FIU program that had been winless the year before his arrival and, in just his fourth season, led it to the Sun Belt Conference title and a bowl-game victory. That season, 2010, he was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year. In total, he coached six seasons at FIU, from 2007 to 2012.

Cristobal, who played his Hurricanes career under coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson, was an All-Big East selection in 1992. He is a double-alumnus of the University of Miami, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree from the University. Cristobal was born in Miami on Sept. 24, 1970. He and his wife, Jessica, married in June 2006 and are the parents of two sons, Mario Mateo and Rocco.

From: https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2021/12/06/welcome-home-mario/

Comments

[58 Straight]

Sure, it's all good until the first time he runs up the middle into an 8 men in the box defense for a 2 yard loss. Then we will see what she says?

[TonyCane]

5 star WR set for visit, has Miami in Top 3
https://miami.rivals.com/news/5-star-wr-has-um-in-final-3-setting-up-cane-official-visit-this-weekend

Also seeing that predictions have flipped for 4 star DE Nyjalik Kelly...to us.

[JCane]

For everyone who didn't like J. Medlock as a LB recruit, he decommitted. One of his top choices now is Utah. Guess they looked pretty good vs. the Ducks the last few weeks. ;)

That being said, I think there might be a few gets we weren't going to get pre Mario, along with portal players. Wouldn't have been my first choice, but at the very least an upgrade. I hope he'll be much more. I'd love to see the former Cane become a great one.

[Wvcane]

Are the assistants supposedly coming with Mario any good?

[JCane]

Not sure we know yet exactly which assistants are coming with yet, other than the OC signing to be HC at Akron. The Oregon qb verbal, Tanner Bailey, decommitted. Since he's a kid from Ala, it will be interesting to see what decisions get made, including with our present qb verbal.

[TonyCane]

Not sure we know yet exactly which assistants are coming with yet, other than the OC signing to be HC at Akron. The Oregon qb verbal, Tanner Bailey, decommitted. Since he's a kid from Ala, it will be interesting to see what decisions get made, including with our present qb verbal.

Posted by: JCane | December 06, 2021 at 09:37 PM

I think our QB has reconfirmed his commitment.

[HillViewCane]

I didn’t like Manny’s parting tweet taking a swipe at the school. They let him stay on for the season, yet no gratitude.

[HillViewCane]

Oregon battle a lot of injuries this year

[HerbieIbis]

Well, well, well, super Mario is back. Recruiting should now pick up. Scared Medlock off, now down to one LBer. I don't see Qb Brown sticking around either but if he does, so be it.
As long as he brings in an OC that runs something similar to Lash, I'll deal with my second choice.
Ain't ecstatic but not mad either, as long as that excuse maker is gone The Herb is ok.
I'd like to see him keep TRob, Fields, Hickson and Likens. D Van dyke it doesn't matter nor Simpson. Simpson is a good coach but not a great recruiter or should I say, I don't think he cares too!
Patke so sad to bad, beat it. Justice is not bad but but he can't them sorry azzes to run block and after 2 years no real elite line recruits. All we got so far is an ex basketball player or should I say the proverbial under the rock player.
Hope he brings Mirobal with him.
Manny tried to play tough to get. Had to put a time line on him.
Over all way better than we were but we should find out which direction we are headed once we play a big boy team. If we get blown out, all we can say is here we go again.
We have talent. The cupboard ain't bare. Just got to get several pieces from the portal, especially on Dee to really get us over the hump.

[HerbieIbis]

As far as the stadium goes, if the man with the bucks is willing to spend the money, why would u turn him down. It ain't your dime.
That's the last piece of the puzzle and one nobody could use against us again, the lack of an onsite stadium.
It's called progression and take advantage of it while these dudes have their wallets open. Might as well go all out, while we are going all out.
Coach L will be gone after this year and Dimare, if he flounders again he can hit the bricks.
A new day has come and time for a lot of payback, like about 15 or so years worth.

[JCane]

Can't see Mirabal not joining Mario. HS teammates, coached with him the entire time at FIU, and then followed to Oregon 3 yrs ago, ultimately getting title of associate HC while coaching OL. Unless he gets a bigger title/offer somewhere else, I just don't see him making a lateral move, unless Mario has other ideas.

[nemo2020]

Okay, let me be the first to say that
"Next year Miami will be favored to win the ACC Coastal Division".

Of course, I am NOT saying that
"Miami will be favored to win the ACC Coastal Division AGAIN next year".

To the contrary, I am saying that
"Next year Miami will AGAIN be favored to win the ACC Coastal Division".

Okay?

[Sarasota 'cane]

Manny is right…Miami should’ve fired him weeks ago.

No hard feelings from me. Next man up!

Go ‘canes!🙌

https://twitter.com/Coach_MannyDiaz/status/1467957624549355530?s=20

[JCane]

Tony:

Brown affirmed his commitment, but there are rumors of other schools coming harder at him. I'd be surprised if qb Brown or qb Bailey sign on ESD, although Bailey just decommitted from the Ducks.

What I most like about the idea of Mario coming back is the idea of real recruiting again, maybe getting more south FL guys to stay home again while putting up a better wall to keep Bama, Mich, UGa, OSU, Clemson, etc. from taking so much of the top talent out. A little success could lead to a whole lot more. We shall see.

[HerbieIbis]

Manny was right, they did do this all the wrong way but with that being said your azz should of been gone the first year mainly for that shyt show to end your first season, then cough up about 700 yds or more to UNC to end last year and finally finding away to lose the coastal with the best team in that division and lest I forget the FSU sham. U had your nine lives and more.
Now, don't leave mad, just leave.☹

[Harry Miller]

This is what I am talking about. Not my first choice. I liked Kiffen for his offence and style.
Christobal was my second. If he would just stop the up the middle so much against a stacked defense.
This is great. I been watching Cane football sense 1946, seen the worst teams all the way up to the best team ever, then all the way back down to what we been going thru for these last 15 years.
Now approaching 80 yrs old I have hope that I will see the Canes be great again. What a great feeling it is to finely have this feeling again.
In a couple years we will be relevant again in
the college foot ball world. Maybe in one year we will soon know.

[AfriCane]

I’ve never seen any other coach battle with grace while constantly under fire like manny did. At some point, I hope some of u might have had cause for pause when the whole world, cane’s world anyway wanted him dead. I don’t know about u, but there were times I felt sorry for him, looking at the anger and Ill will directed towards one man.
Granted, he was at fault because of the work he did and product on the field at the start of the season. But he stayed focused and finished better.
I think he was treated shitty at the end by the school, but I don’t think they had a choice. If the deal had gone through, it would have been bad for recruits and the roster if they didn’t have a coach. And a lot of coaches just did that to their school. So a school did it to a coach now. But during all that, he stayed strong and carried on.
He’s result was lacking, but u have to give it to him and u have to give it to him on how he came back.

[AeroCane]

Afri
You follow the canes but so many other coaches are under fire like manny! (Ask dan Mullen)
The guy lost to a terrible FSU team like 3 games ago! He lost to a horrendous gatech team, Duke, latech and FIU (yes, FIU) in his year 1; got CRUSHED by Clemson and UNC in year 2 (including record breaking defense, his so called specialty); in year 3, he didn’t compete with Bama or MSU and again, lost to a terrible FSU team; he’s just lucky we kept him as long as we did and he should be thanking us for being so effing stupid to of hired him in the first place rather than complaining of the process! He’s a terrible coach and should move to politics like his daddy! Glad he’s gone!!

[AeroCane]

Potential OC: Kendall Briles
Just one of many

[nemo2020]

I guess Manny ("The $4 Million Man") is upset that Miami should have fired him sooner.

Or perhaps Manny is upset that Miami intended to keep him (for another dismal year), if the U couldn't convince Cristobal to leave Oregon.

Or maybe he's upset that Miami didn't say anything publicly about it's long shot initiative to possibly lure Mario to Miami to replace him.

¡Pobrecito!

[orange 'n green in the vein]

Hey, did any of you know, at one time, Manny Diaz's dad was the mayor of the city of Miami? Huh? Did any of you know that? Did you?

Who cares about the over promoted peter principle coordinator's feelings, should have never been given the job and the AD who hired him was a giant two faced piece of crap too. They both deserve each other and Manny was over paid for a job he couldn't do anyway if he feels like it wasn't fair the position got upgraded and he was sent packing to shed tears of Bowden's grave. Good riddance to a terrible hire, learn what a bye week is used for next time.

[DallasTX Cane]

LOL. Per usual, OVG delivers truth in a most unique package.

Manny had no problem “screwing over” Temple for a better job and gladly took millions of $$ for barely mediocre performance. Grow up… it’s business not personal. Well perhaps personal for many Fans! LOL If he Manny didn’t read the tea leaves (or the local blogs), that’s just another example of incompetence. He’s now got more $$ than the rest of the 99%, so no shed tears here. Plus he didn’t deliver any skins on the wall to elevate him past just yet another crappy UM HC hire

[DallasTX Cane]

I have been kinda lukewarm on Mario BUT now that it actually happened feel the excitement! He is Family. And I am psyched to see recruiting on par with the best programs. I realize what some (86) are saying about running up the gut. BUt I am SO friggin sick & tired of our OL being a bunch of SOFT fat boys! I want some aggressive mean MF’ers up front! I don’t want to be Wisconsin on the ground but the OL sets the mentality for the entire offense. I’m sick of having a paper house up front. I want mean and nasty. Mario - I’m expecting a former OL to bring it! Welcome home!

[AeroCane]

Great post Dallas! I agree
Go canes!
Mario will get it done!
He will hire an excellent staff and recruit with the best of them!

[The Word From The Herb]

It might not be to dam hard to get one lousy yard, If one: They would put the QB under center, 2)they would use a Fullback, 3)they use a bigger back. This would help our sorry azz no run blocking linemen, Hopefully!!
Now to recruiting, with hope that Mario can real back into the fold 5 star Shamar Stewart. As of now it looks like, according to the experts, he's headed to Tex. A&M along with another need 4 star DL Anothony Lucas. Looks like we may get lucky and now get Ny Kelly. As for LB's that is the biggest area of need and the one position that really held this team back. He will have to work some serious magic their. Bissainthe is a start. He is one of the few kids that verballed to a school and not to a particular coach.
We also need help at corner and may be able to reel in Earl Jr. Don't really know the deal their but Earl Sr. wasn't happy about his recruitment. Luckily Mario had been recruiting some of these guys for Oregon.

[KYcane]

Miami football goes all in -- Will it be enough to cure Canes' ills?

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32807093

[The Real Herbie]

Joe Brady as a OC would be a great start.

I believe we should make Herbstreit an honorary Cane. He started the ball rolling by lambasting everyone on national tv. Thanks for all your help.

[roachcane77]

"...learn what a bye week is used for next time."
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | December 07, 2021 at 08:43 AM

😂💯

[Terrance Sullivan]

That Press Conference had my old ass wanting to run through a Brick Wall! Geez I am Hyped! Go Canes!

[58 Straight]

U had your nine lives and more.
Now, don't leave mad, just leave.☹

Posted by: HerbieIbis | December 07, 2021 at 12:06 AM

There IT is right there.

[58 Straight]

I don’t know about u, but there were times I felt sorry for him, looking at the anger and Ill will directed towards one man.

Posted by: AfriCane | December 07, 2021 at 03:24 AM

Never once, not for a second.

He got an undeserved opportunity to earn millions of dollars for doing something that he loves at the place where he wanted to do it. He just wasn't good enough at it to earn the right to keep doing it.

That is all.

[58 Straight]

¡Pobrecito!

Posted by: nemo2020 | December 07, 2021 at 08:12 AM

Si!

[58 Straight]

Good riddance to a terrible hire, learn what a bye week is used for next time.

Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | December 07, 2021 at 08:43 AM

Nailed it.

[58 Straight]

That Press Conference had my old ass wanting to run through a Brick Wall! Geez I am Hyped! Go Canes!

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | December 07, 2021 at 11:48 AM

We ready? WE READY!!!

[58 Straight]

Sorry I sold the 12% bus.

Gonna have to buy a new one at today's inflationary prices. Anybody sees a good buy on da new bus let me know. Thanks for looking out!

[58 Straight]

Please remember...it is the fans job to drink beer and cheer. It is Mario's job to hire the staff and recruit. Don't get it twisted.

[Sarasota 'cane]

Jim Leavitt for DC makes sense to me. He was Mario’s DC at Oregon his first season as head coach. He’s proven. The only time I’ve ever ran onto the field after a game was when Leavitt’s USF Bulls beat #5 ranked West Virginia at Raymond James stadium in Tampa!
What a night! 😂😂😂

Here’s a great article about the game…

https://www.thedailystampede.com/2017/9/28/16372618/usf-vs-west-virginia-september-28-2007-matt-grothe-jim-leavitt-ben-moffitt-rich-rodriguez-pat-white

Go ‘canes!

[Sarasota 'cane]

Do you all remember when Willie Taggart took the FSU gig and thought Leavitt and Cristobal were gonna follow him to Tallahassee? They were like, “We good!” LOL!

If they had gone to Tallahassee with Willie I believe Willie would still be the head coach of the noles.

[MLALUMNI1970]

I am so happy. Manny got big bucks over 3 years, and didn’t perform. Period. Wouldn’t all you Canespacers like to earn millions and millions for your dream job?? ENOUGH SAID. Just get ready for some real FOOTBALL!!!
I don’t want to die yet!!!! HORRAY!

[TonyCane]

I think he was treated shitty at the end by the school, but I don’t think they had a choice. If the deal had gone through, it would have been bad for recruits and the roster if they didn’t have a coach. And a lot of coaches just did that to their school. So a school did it to a coach now. But during all that, he stayed strong and carried on.
He’s result was lacking, but u have to give it to him and u have to give it to him on how he came back.

Posted by: AfriCane | December 07, 2021 at 03:24 AM

Agreed. If he had been let go after Virginia, that would have opened up Leonard Taylor, James Williams, et al to months of attempted poaching by major programs. Now these attempts still happened, but the velocity would have been greater and the air of uncertainty would have potentially led to a gutting of our program.

Also, I do feel bad for Manny. He tried his best, and he pulled just about every lever available to him to make it work. Ironically I think it was one of those levers (D'Eriq King) that did him in. Had Miami been forced to go with Tyler Van Dyke last season we would have taken lumps and probably had a 4-5 loss season in 2020. But it was a COVID year, and you can chalk that up to some extraordinary factors. If Van Dyke had a year's experience going into 2021, we probably lose only 2 games this year.

[nemo2020]

It appears that Oregon offensive line coach Alex Mirabal is joining Miami staff.

Mirabal has been with Cristobal since the latter was the coach at FIU. He was a high school teammate with Cristobal and followed him to Oregon after he finished his four-year stint with Marshall.

He was also named the associate head coach for this past season in addition to coaching the offensive line. Mirabal has always done a solid job with the Ducks’ offensive line and that’s reflected with their point totals.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/report-oregon-assistant-appears-to-be-joining-miami-staff/ar-AARzBT9?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531

[nemo2020]

RB Cam’Ron Harris declares for NFL Draft

Harris is the third Hurricane to announce his plans to enter the NFL Draft with eligibility remaining. Wide receiver Charleston Rambo also declared for the Draft on Friday and safety Bubba Bolden previously said he would leave for the NFL.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/starting-rb-cam-ron-harris-declares-for-draft-after-injury-shortened-fourth-year-at-miami/ar-AARzk80?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531

[Sarasota 'cane]

This episode of the Orange Bowl Boys podcast is awesome! The interview with Cristobal family friend and former UM National Champion Joaquin Gonzalez is full of information.

The link below if for the Apple podcast app but you can listen on any podcast app.

Go ‘canes! 🙌

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/orange-bowl-boys-a-miami-hurricanes-podcast/id1445482395?i=1000544189402

[AeroCane]

Harris is stupid! LOL
Most likely won’t even get drafted or a very low draft pick. He’s better off transferring and playing 1 more year and then declaring!
Rambo - good decision but for selfish reasons I would of loved for him to stay
Bolden - who cares - maybe the most overrated player I’ve been around

[nemo2020]

Rambo - good decision but for selfish reasons I would of loved for him to stay

Posted by: AeroCane | December 07, 2021 at 02:44 PM

Honestly, I never understood why he transferred from Oklahoma to Miami. Regardless, he's an excellent WR. I hope it works out for him in the NFL.

[AeroCane]

I understood
Miami:
Better city; better school; better beaches; cuter girls; possible more playing time potential (as I don’t know the dynamics at Oklahoma)

Oklahoma
Better coach;

LOL

[TJL]

Jeez the head coaches since Tom started this blog:
Larry Coker
Randy Shannon
Jeff Stoutland
Al (azzhole) Golden
Larry Scott
Mark Richt
Little Manny
Super Mario

[TJL]

and per wikipedia the first coach at the U was:
Cub Buck from 1926-28

[CGNC]

Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | December 06, 2021 at 05:35 PM

Truth!! Love the Hard Rock. Miami Dade County traffic is abysmal on an ordinary day

[CGNC]

Sure, it's all good until the first time he runs up the middle into an 8 men in the box defense for a 2 yard loss. Then we will see what she says?

Posted by: 58 Straight | December 06, 2021 at 06:38 PM

LOL you know what she will say...