NCAA
Who is Mario Cristobal? Everything you need to know about the Miami Hurricanes football coach
Some experts ranked Cristobal in the bottom half among ACC Coaches last month, given his weak starting point with the Hurricanes. But there is a reason why Miami hired him. Let’s have a look
When Mario Cristobal was introduced as the new head coach for Miami, he expressed his eagerness to “compete for championships.” This marked a significant moment for the former Hurricanes player, assistant coach, and beloved hometown figure.
Cristobal’s appointment by Miami from Oregon last year garnered considerable attention, with promises to rejuvenate a program that had not clinched a championship since joining the ACC in 2004. However, his inaugural season did not live up to expectations, as the Hurricanes finished with a disappointing 5-7 record, their worst performance since 2007. Hoping for a similar Year 2 turnaround as he had experienced at Oregon, Cristobal took decisive steps to reset his tenure, including making crucial hires for coordinator positions. Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry replaced Kevin Steele, while Houston offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson replaced Josh Gattis.
The inability to achieve even this modest improvement in Year 2 would raise serious doubts about the program’s ability to contend for championships under Cristobal’s leadership.
But who is Mario Cristobal? And what has he done as a coach?
Cristobal had previously led Oregon to a Pac-12 championship and a Rose Bowl victory, culminating in a remarkable 12-2 record during his second season in Eugene in 2019. In the span of only three seasons at the helm of Oregon football, Cristobal has successfully fostered a culture centered around physicality and has pursued an unwavering strategy to revive the Ducks as a powerhouse within the Pac-12 Conference.
Although his overall head coaching record stands at an even 67-67 over 12 seasons at three different positions, that 2019 achievement remains a shining moment of hope on his coaching resume, suggesting the potential for success at Miami.
Cristobal was named the 34th head coach in Oregon history on Dec. 8, 2017, after spending the 2017 season as Oregon’s co-offensive coordinator, run-game coordinator, and offensive line coach. He achieved a 35-13 record in four seasons as the head coach at Oregon.
Since his appointment to Miami in December 2020, Cristobal has been instrumental in establishing a foundation for future success, marked by three consecutive top 20 recruiting classes.
Cristobal’s strong recruiting abilities and his status as an icon within the program have bolstered his position at Miami, even though the early successes of many other coaches from the 2021 coaching cycle have increased the pressure on Cristobal to deliver on his commitment to compete for championships.
In the “Ranking the ACC’s College Football Coaches for 2023,” Cristobal is currently ranked eighth. This ranking appears to heavily consider Miami’s disappointing 5-7 season in 2022 rather than evaluating his entire coaching career, which spans over 20 years of coaching, including nine as an FBS head coach.