Mario Cristobal Rumors: Miami gives Oregon coach Monday deadline as Manny Diaz resumes work, report says
It’s been 20 years since Miami football last won the national championship. While hurricanes were talked about a lot during those two decades, they were rarely what they were under Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson, or even Butch Davis and Larry Coker.
In fact, in the past 15 years, The Hurricanes have finished their season in the top 25 only four times and only had one season 10 wins.
EXTENSION CAROUSEL: Any changes of FBS in 2021
And, to keep its form, the show has been making headlines over the past few weeks for something out of the box; job security of current coach Manny Diaz, who could be made a debut but has yet to be fired. Diaz is aged 21-15 for three seasons in Miami, and the Hurricanes have won five of their last six games this year to become a player to qualify for the third consecutive season.
Reports surfaced this week that the Hurricanes are targeting Oregon coach and former Miami player Mario Cristobal to take over the program.
Despite the fact that Miami doesn’t have a permanent AD, the Hurricanes will be “running after (Oregon coach) Mario Cristobal in the coming days,” @flasportsbuzz report
– Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 3, 2021
As of Sunday afternoon, Diaz and his staff had not been laid off; they were supposed to be kept if Cristobal turned down Miami’s offer. However, the story goes beyond Diaz who is still working for Miami.
CAO DONG BOWL SCHEDULE: Date, time, TV for every FBS game
As Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson noted, Diaz hit the recruiting trail on Sunday alongside his fellow employees.
Diaz and his UM staff will not be employed today as this most unusual situation continues. UM didn’t seem comfortable firing Diaz until a deal was signed with Mario.
– Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) December 5, 2021
Others have pointed out that recruiting is an area where Diaz struggles. To recruit as a potential lame duck or second choice would seem to make the situation more difficult.
Whatever your opinion on whether Manny Diaz should return, Miami is treating him like yesterday’s trash – and that’s a poor reflection of his “leadership.” ” and its “manager”. If you want someone else, fine. But it’s ridiculous to make him recruit like this.
– Andrea Adelson (@aadelsonESPN) December 3, 2021
The Hurricanes have the 10th best recruiting rank in the ACC out of 14 teams and the 52nd nationally for 2022, according to 247Sports.
Regardless of what has happened up until now, it looks like the situation will resolve itself in the coming days. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported Sunday that Cristobal has until midday Monday to accept an offer from Miami and return to his alma mater. If he refuses it, then the Storm will keep Diaz.
Mario Cristobal has a Monday noon deadline to accept the UM job, sources say @SInow. If he refuses, Manny Diaz will be kept, like @flasportsbuzz reported.
The final decision on AD – where Dan Radakovich is the leading candidate – will be made once the coach situation is resolved.
– Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 5, 2021
Oregon has been reported to request an extension Cristobal’s contract and compensation are similar to those of USC’s Lincoln Riley and LSU’s Brian Kelly. Cristobal made $4.3 million annually now. Diaz’s salary is not made public.
Oregon has the 9th-ranked team nationally and is in 35-13th place with two Pac-12 titles and Cristobal’s five-season top five finish there.
There will likely be a resolution in the next 24 to 48 hours, but Miami will take longer than that to get rid of the headlines about its handling of the coach search and Diaz’s condition.