Miami Football: How can you search for a coach when you have one?
By Dante Pryor
Miami Football is pursuing Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal as the head coach.
Legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi said it best, “What the hell’s going on out here?” The Miami Hurricanes are pursuing Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal as its next head coach. There are two issues with this coaching search.
First, the university does not have an Athletic Director. Current Clemson AD Dan Radakovich is close to a deal. Second, the Hurricanes still have a head football coach.
Maybe that was burying the lede a bit but hiring the football coach is usually the job of the AD. The coaching search has been a complete dumpster fire, according to many reports.
Brett McMurphy reported this about the search a couple of days ago:
Multiple Miami AD candidates told @ActionNetworkHQ UM’s search is a “mess.” With more than 50 board of trustees & several donors involved “everyone is in charge, no one is in charge. They don’t know what they want to do w/Manny (Diaz). Half want him gone, half want him to stay"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 2, 2021
Many reports have Mario Cristobal weighing his options and talking to his team. Current head coach Manny Diaz does not know whether or not he has a job and has until Monday to know his employment status.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellinger:
Mario Cristobal has a deadline of midday Monday to accept the UM job, sources tell @SInow. If he declines, Manny Diaz will be retained, as @flasportsbuzz reported.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 5, 2021
Final decision on AD - where Dan Radakovich is top candidate - will be made after the coach situation is resolved.
According to these tweets, Manny Diaz and Dan Radakovich are waiting to hear what Mario Cristobal will do. Dennis Dodd of CBSSports tweeted the following:
Sources: While Mario Cristobal is perhaps the leading candidate at Miami, sources close to the situation indicate he is still weighing his options. As of now, Cristobal still considering potential extension from Oregon. Made such comments Friday night.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) December 5, 2021
Where should Cristobal land?
Home is attractive, even when it is a mess. However, Oregon has done everything for Cristobal. The Ducks have plans to upgrade their practice facility and have invested in the recruiting budget. In short, Cristobal wanted to build an SEC-like program in the Pac-12, and the Ducks have been accommodating.
Cristobal played high school football in Miami football, played for Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson at Miami, and coached Florida International, also in Miami. That said, if Miami cannot promise Cristobal what Oregon has already given, there is no reason to go to Coral Gables.
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The only thing that is known is that no one knows anything.