Mario Cristobal weighs in on coaching carousel issues, timing

New Miami football coach Mario Cristobal joined ESPN’s College GameDay Saturday morning to discuss his new position and how the coaching carousel can be fixed moving forward. The Miami native and former Hurricanes offensive lineman returns home with his eyes set on turning the program back into and ACC and national powerhouse for years to come.

Mario Cristobal’s Oregon exit – along with every other high-profile coach’s exit in this coaching carousel – is under a microscope as fans, players and analysts try to weigh the best time for these types of moves. As someone still experiencing the transition in real time, Cristobal provided his insight on how things should change while talking to Rece Davis.

“Well it would be helpful, because right now there isn’t a good time,” Cristobal said. “It comes at you in different ways at different times. And it doesn’t make it comfortable for anybody.

“Certainly, I think like anything else with college football and collegiate athletics if there are certain windows where things can transpire, I think it gives everybody a chance to plan and prepare. And if there is a move to be made that there’s some order, there’s some accord because it is – it’s different, it’s difficult – but right now it is what it is. I’d be in favor of something of that nature to try to help everybody’s processes out.”

Mario Cristobal on Miami return

Mario Cristobal reportedly signed a ten-year deal with a salary of around $8 million per season with Miami. He will also receive “significant investments” around him, including support staff, coaches, recruiting and facilities. Miami must pay Oregon roughly $9 million for Cristobal’s buyout.

The last week has been hectic for Cristobal in the midst of making this decision. But Cristobal said that when Miami presented him the opportunity to come back, it was one he couldn’t pass up. And he is ready to get to work right away.

“When something like this comes together, you can’t draw it up any better. So it’s emotional,” Cristobal said. “There’s passion behind it, there’s drive, there’s energy, and there’s sense of urgency to get to work right away because you want to get started. Try putting all of those things into one with about 16 shots of Cuban coffee and two hours of sleep and that’s what you have.”

Cristobal played his college football at Miami from 1989 to 1992. The Hurricanes won two national championships in 1989 and 1991 while he was in Miami.