Mario Cristobal shares greatest lessons learned as a head coach

Mario Cristobal has accumulated a lifetime of lessons to give back to his players at the University of Miami, but what stands above the rest? During an interview with Colin Cowherd on The Herd, the new leader of the Hurricanes shared the greatest lessons he’s learned during his football journey.

“I think the things that Jimmy Johnson — I’ll even go further back, Dennis Lavelle, my high school coach,” started Cristobal. “The stuff that he reinforced back then was reinforced here at the University of Miami. Was reinforced coaching for Nick Saban at Alabama. At the heart of all of it, it’s connection and relationships, combined with intensity and passion. We pour an insane amount of time with this stuff. As the years go on, anytime you stray from those principles and values that you know are true to being successful and winning, not only on the field but in developing these young men for that next step in life. We are their last pit stop, right? After this, it’s the real world. Tough job market. Relentless, right? Unforgiving economy.

“To never, ever stray from the principles and values. If you could coach against yourself, and if I could coach against myself I always say, don’t ever, every stray from the principles of emphasizing disciple, physicality, culture, relentless effort.”

As you can see, Mario Cristobal has had some of the best teachers in the game of football. Now, he’s looking to make his own mark on the game in the place where his love for the sport was given new meaning.

Mario Cristobal compares Tyler Van Dyke to former Oregon star quarterback Justin Herbert

Mario Cristobal has enormous praise for Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.

Evidently, the new leader of the program believes his quarterback can ascend into a superstar. During an interview with Colin Cowherd on The Herd, Cristobal compared Van Dyke to Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback, Justin Herbert — Cristobal’s quarterback at Oregon.

“He’s incredible,” began Cristobal. “I mean, an exceptional leader. He’s a relentless, pursuit of excellence guy. His decision-making is on point. His accuracy, his arm strength. He understands protections, the run game. He is a complete player, he really is. Very mobile. His pocket presence is off the charts. He understands defense as well as anybody I’ve been around. He reminds me a lot of what we had at Oregon in Justin Herbert a few years back. Again, he only played in seven or eight games last year, and you saw how Miami’s offense really took a huge uptick when he was in there.

“So, we think he’s going to be one of the best players in the country right now. He’s done a great job in the offseason with our team. Certainly in spring practice, he was off the charts, as a competitor and as a leader. So, big things expected of Tyler Van Dyke.”

As you can see, Mario Cristobal has big expectations for Tyler Van Dyke during the coach’s first season back at Miami. The Hurricanes can go as far as they want if Cristobal is right about his quarterback.