Miami Hurricanes interim coaching staff for bowl game is set

After a crazy couple weeks, Manny Diaz is out and Mario Cristobal is in as Miami head coach. But neither will be coaching in Miami’s bowl game, though.

Instead, assistant head coach and defensive line coach Jess Simpson will be the Hurricanes’ interim head coach for their Sun Bowl matchup with Washington State, according to The Athletic’s Manny Navarro. Rob Likens will serve as the offensive coordinator and Travaris Robinson will be the defensive coordinator.

Told Jess Simpson will be Miami’s interim coach for the bowl game. Rob Likens the OC and Travaris Robinson the DC.

— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) December 7, 2021

Simpson has split the last five years between Miami and the Atlanta Falcons as defensive line coach. Likens has been Miami’s wide receivers coach since 2020 and added passing game coordinator to his title this year. Robinson took over the Hurricanes’ defensive backs coach this year after five years as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at South Carolina.

Miami will take on Washington State in the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve at noon ET.

Mario Cristobal explains decision to leave Oregon for Miami

The Miami Hurricanes have officially hired former Oregon Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal. Miami introduced Cristobal in an introductory press conference on Tuesday, where Cristobal went in depth on his decision to leave Oregon to take the Miami job.

Cristobal played his college football at Miami from 1989 to 1992. He was an offensive lineman, and the Hurricanes won two national championships in 1989 and 1991 while he was in Miami.

“Well, I mean to tell you the truth, when I work I work,” Cristobal said of his decision to leave Oregon for Miami. “When I was at Oregon, I did not see myself ever leaving because of how much I loved the place and loved the people. I think when you do it right, if this is truly a vocation, when you’re at a place you’re fully in. And I was given that opportunity and we loved absolutely everything.

“So I guess the best way to say it is, when you have the opportunity to play at a place and then come back and coach there with the experiences that you have had, surrounded by the people and the family that your fondest memories are of, what’s more powerful than that in this coaching profession? It doesn’t make it easy. I’m being honest, it’s difficult because of the time invested. I believe in people and I believe in pouring every ounce into people when you have the chance to make a difference in their life.”