Miami football: Mario Cristobal makes first coordinator hire

The Miami Hurricanes have hired Kevin Steele to be their new defensive coordinator under head coach Mario Cristobal.

The college football coaching carousel saw numerous big names make the jump from their current programs to new jobs. One of them was Mario Cristobal, who left the Oregon Ducks at the end of the season to take the head coaching job with the Miami Hurricanes, his alma mater. It has been weeks since he was introduced, and he has now made his first coordinator hire.

According to multiple reports, Miami hired Kevin Steele to be their new defensive coordinator under Cristobal. Steele was set to become the defensive coordinator for the Maryland Terrapins before deciding to join the Hurricanes.

Miami football hires Kevin Steele as new defensive coordinator

Prior to almost joining Maryland before flipping to Miami, Steele had been the defensive coordinator for the Auburn Tigers from 2016 until 2020, where he finished out his tenure as the interim head coach following Gus Malzahn’s firing. Steele had gained steam to become Auburn’s next head coach, but the program ultimately decided to hire Bryan Harsin. Steele was not brought back to remain on the team’s staff.

Steele and Cristobal have worked together in the past, as they were on Nick Saban’s coaching staff in Alabama from 2013 until 2014.

Cristobal is looking to bring the Hurricanes back to the top of college football, and he has brought on Steele to lead the defense.

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