Analysts, prep coaches, ex-Canes great weigh in on Cristobal: “This is an amazing move”

Reaction from 10 people on new Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal:

▪ Former UM All-American offensive lineman Joaquin Gonzalez, who got to know Cristobal when the coach was a graduate assistant during Gonzalez’s time at UM, said the level of accountability in the program is about to change.

“Talking to him, you will understand the intensity and the tone that just encapsulates what Mario is all about,” Gonzalez said by phone on Monday. “There will be no dancing on the sideline when you’re losing to FIU. No Tate Martell coming in and out of the building like it’s his personal vacation spot.

“There will be a different tone in the building. With Mario, you get a package, and he’s been successful everywhere. This is a guy that will totally change the attitude in the building. The tone in the building will change. This is an amazing move.

“Those who know Mario understand the expectation that he puts on himself and those around him. If you have the pleasure of being coached by him, you quickly understand that. I’m excited beyond words. I’ve wanted this for quite some time. He’s the guy who can put all the pieces together. Mario is real. He’s not a lip service guy.”

Gonzalez — a Miami Columbus High alum, like Cristobal — expects upgrades in two other areas, too: the staff and recruiting.

“He’s won the top recruiter award for three years, and [offensive line coach] Alex Mirabal [was named 247 Sports’ top Pacific-12 recruiter] last year,” Gonzalez said. “In terms of recruiting, no doubt there’s an upgrade.

“In terms of selecting a staff and putting people around him, that’s one of his strengths — picking the right staff. Eight of the 10 coaches on our 2000, 2001 staffs became head coaches in the college or the pros. Having [good assistants] will help in [player] development, which is a key thing we’ve been missing.”

When Gonzalez made his speech after entering UM’s Hall of Fame, he said the top three coaches that were most influential to his career were Mirabal (his offensive line coach at Columbus), Cristobal and former UM offensive line coach Art Kehoe.

Gonzalez said he expects Mirabal to join Cristobal at UM “in some capacity.” Besides his role as Oregon’s offensive line coach, he also has an “associate head coach” title with the Ducks.

▪ Miami Central High coach Roland Smith: “He’s a tireless recruiter. I can recall when he was at FIU, even Rutgers, and now at Oregon, that he’s tireless. He’s the guy that seals the deal. When he likes somebody [in recruiting], he’s a bulldog.

“I’ve visited him in Oregon. Good people skills. Knows how to relate to student athletes. I like Manny and Manny did a good job. It’s the business we’re in. Sometimes a good guy needs to get out for somebody else to come in. I like both of them.”

He said he hasn’t spoken to his four-star Class of 2022 linebacker, Wesley Bissainthe, since Cristobal’s hiring but Bissainthe has said he’s sticking with UM regarding of the coach. Bissainthe committed to UM on Saturday.

Smith said even if Diaz didn’t remain coach, Bissainthe “knew they would bring in somebody good.”

▪ Miami Palmetto coach Mike Manasco, who made a point to praise Diaz:

Cristobal “is from here, played there and understands what is going on here with the climate of recruiting. He’s always been good recruiter everywhere he’s been. He’s a great man. His personality, his character, all the things you want. The table is set there for them to be really, really good, with the emergence of the quarterback [Tyler Van Dyke]. Miami’s in a good spot.”

▪ A UM official, who spoke on condition of anonymity: “[Cristobal] was the obvious choice. He’s earned his badge. Local kid, played at Columbus, played at UM, became a grad assistant, went on to coach at FIU. Got a good job at Oregon. He’s done all the things you would like to see a coach go through to progress to this point.

“He’s gone through the hard times. He’s a UM alum, which is very important and probably one of the top 10 coaches around at the moment. He’s having success in a [state] where’s there’s not a lot of talent. He’s been able to go to California and the rest of the country and recruit.

“He’s done a good job of recruiting and he’s proven himself. He’s played in the trenches, knows what you have to do to win. He’s got everything you’re looking for. He’s old enough to gain a lot of experience at 51 but young enough to be here for a while. You’re not getting a guy in his later years ready to retire.

“He’s known in Florida because he was at FIU and has been at Alabama recruiting in Alabama for South Florida. He knows the high school coaches. He’s a known commodity, can attract the best kids to UM. He has a presence and commands respect. That respect will draw a lot of kids to the university.”

▪ ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, speaking Sunday before the hiring was announced Monday: “More resources are being put into the program. I think [Cristobal joining UM] has everything to do with family and his roots. That’s the only thing it could be to leave Oregon with the facilities….

“You get anything and everything you want [there]. To go to Miami where you’re basically starting over, the only thing it can be is coming back home. The challenge of bringing the alma mater back to what they used to be [is appealing]. I thought Manny Diaz did an incredible job under unusual circumstances. His team played hard all year.”

▪ ESPN’s Jesse Palmer, on Sunday:

“That’s one thing we know Mario Cristobal can do. He can recruit. You’re seeing him doing it at Oregon. He’s going into places like Los Angeles and California and getting [top NFL prospect] Kevon Thibodaux and some of these guys.

“He’s played at Miami, coached at Miami, coached at FIU. He can recruit there as well. The talent in their backyard has been getting away. They need someone right now more than ever because there’s a guy in Gainesville now, Billy Napier, who’s a recruiting alpha who is going to try to go in their backyard and steal as many guys as he can. The reason we’re talking about Cristobal is that recruiting prowess.”

▪ ESPN’s David Pollack, on Sunday:

“If I’m Miami, I’m excited about the native son but Cristobal, this is fresh off the doors getting blown off of you by Utah twice. [Utah coach] Kyle Whittingham is tough. Cristobal has always looked tough, Kyle Whittingham showed you a little bit of what tough is. He’s brought a lot of notoriety to Oregon and a lot of talk but there hasn’t been a lot of winning.” (Cristobal was 35-13 at Oregon and won two Pacific-12 championships.)

▪ ESPN’s Joey Galloway, before the hiring was announced on Sunday:

“There is something behind the scenes at Miami that just isn’t right. When we look at Cristobal going down there, I talked about Oklahoma not being a great situation and that being scary to me. Miami is more scary because of these situations. It doesn’t look like a stable situation from top the bottom.”

▪ Dolphins safety and former Oregon safety Jevon Holland, in a conversation with Dolphins reporters last Friday: “He’s a hell of a coach, one of the best coaches I’ve had. As a recruiter, he’s even better. You see that with the talent we get at Oregon. They get guys that fit the system.”

▪ Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who has never met him: “I know he’s done a great job at Oregon. From everything I’ve heard, he’s a very good coach and leader. Congratulations to him. I didn’t know [Miami hired him].”

STAFFING UPDATE

Besides the potential hiring of Mirabal, a source said Cristobal has interest in former UM defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, who now holds the same position with the Seattle Seahawks.

Defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, who has time left on his contract, has a decent chance to be retained, a source said.

Incidentally, tight ends coach Stephen Field previously spent one season with Cristobal at Oregon before joining Miami.

Also, the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds reported that there is mutual interest between UM and former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Brady, a Miami Lakes native who was fired by the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. But Reynolds made clear that he’s not reporting a deal is close. Brady likely will have multiple Power 5 offers.

A source said Monday afternoon that Brady is very much in the mix at UM.

Also, Bob Shoop - an analyst for Diaz at UM last season - is joining USF as defensive coordinator, Yahoo reported.

Here’s the news story from Susan Miller Degnan, Michelle Kaufman and me with all the details on Cristobal joining UM on a 10-year, $80 million contract, with reaction from Jimmy Johnson and others.