5 candidates to replace Manny Diaz as Miami football coach
1. Mario Cristobal, Oregon head coach
Cristobal has surfaced immediately as a candidate to replace Helton at USC. When Fox Sports Radio’s Doug Gottlieb first asked him about it and then pressed a little more, the Oregon head coach repeated a two-word response–“Go Ducks.” To say he “dunked” on Gottlieb is a reach, but it qualified as a stern “I’m not talking about it.” There’s nothing else Cristobal was going to say in terms of a denial he’s at all interested in USC, especially coming off a huge win over Ohio State.
Take 30 seconds out of your day to hear Mario Cristobal dunk on Doug Gottlieb when asked about the USC rumors.
— Andrew G. Haubner (@A_G_Haubner) September 15, 2021
"My response is Go Ducks." pic.twitter.com/7ripxvpVW4
While the USC job might not be on Cristobal’s radar right now, and it might never be, the Miami job is probably different if it were open. He was born in Miami, and he played for the Hurricanes from 1989-1992. Then he started his coaching career at his alma mater as a GA in 1998 and came back as an assistant coach from 2004-2006 before taking his first head coaching job at FIU.
Getting right down to it from Miami’s perspective, a search for Diaz’s replacement would probably start with Cristobal. If he decides to remain at Oregon, then other candidates can be courted.
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