Cristobal Is Assembling A Premier Coaching Staff, Recruits Taking Notice

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Marcus Benjamin

The Miami Hurricanes are experiencing a shift.  

Mike Ryan Ruiz of the Dan Le Batard Show first reported three months ago that the University of Miami would dedicate 20 to 30 million per year to the Miami Hurricanes athletic department.  This increase in budget communicates that Miami is not settling for mediocrity.  Since then, Miami has hired a top-tier coaching staff.  

First, Miami hired Hurricanes alum, Mario Cristobal, as its new head coach.  Coach Cristobal, previously the head coach at Oregon, reportedly is under contract for 8 million dollars a year for the next 10 years making him the second-highest-paid head coach in the ACC conference just behind Dabo Swinney at Clemson. 

Dan Radkovich was brought over from Clemson to become Miami’s new athletic director and went on to hire Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator and Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator.  Steele brings in over 40 years of coaching experience and Gattis won the Broyles Award that goes to the best assistant coach in the country.  High-profile recruits are taking notice of the hires that are taking place in Coral Gables.  

“Yeah, in my opinion Miami does have the best coaching staff right now,” said 2023 Miami target Payton Kirkland at the Under Armour Miami Camp Sunday.  “I look at contracts, coaching contracts, if there is a possibility that they might get bought out with their contract…Miami is keeping the pressure on me and making hard for me to say no.”

The four-star offensive tackle from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando is also looking at Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan State and Florida.  Kirkland attended junior day weeks ago and likely will not return to Coral Gables until June for an official visit.  Georgia and Michigan State will also get official visits.

Cristobal has brought in Alex Mirabal as the offensive line coach from Oregon and Kevin Smith as running backs coach.  Kirkland sees Coach Mirabal as a mentor. 

“Small guy, biggest heart in the room,” said Kirkland.  “Biggest attitude in the room. It’s kind of a scary presence to be honest with you.”

Coach Cristobal is highly involved in the recruiting process which resonates with the recruits. Also, the hands on experience in the trenches has helped him connect with those playing those positions.  Cristobal played on the offensive line at “The U” winning two national titles.   

“Coach Cristobal hits me up a lot,” said 2023 defensive lineman John Walker (Osceola Kissimmee, FL).  “He texts me and my famliy a lot.  We have a group chat.  He’ll send quotes.  He just checks up on us.  No other head coaches do it like that.  Coach Cristobal is a good dude and he’s a trench guy.” 

Joe Salave’a was also brought in from Oregon as the defensive line coach.  Salave’a brings in 8 years of experience as a player on the collegiate and NFL levels.  

“He’s a good dude,” said Walker of Salave’a.  “We were in the film room. I liked how he was breaking down things and making me understand more of what it takes to be great.”

Ohio State, Michigan, USC, UCF, Florida, Penn State, and Oregon are among the schools of interest for Walker.

“Cristobal texted me at 4 in the moring,” said 2023 Derrick LeBlanc (Osceola Kissimmee, FL) at the UA Miami Camp.  “I like him a lot. He treats you like you are his son.  It’s really great being around him.  He was recruiting me hard at Oregon. He’s really taking the time to build a relationship. I think I might go there next month.”  

Deblanc plans to visit UCF on March 1st, Florida the 5th and aims to visit Miami on the 19th. Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State could also be in line for visits for LeBlanc in April.    

Smith, a former running back at UCF, came over from Ole Miss and was involved in bringing over running back Henry Parrish (Columbus, Miami, FL) from Oxford, and also has a solid relationship with five-star Lehigh running back Richard Young.  

“Recruiting has been going crazy lately,” said Young at the UA camp.  “It’s a lot, it’s a headache, but I know it’s a part of the process and I have to enjoy it as much as possible…Mario Cristobal, I’ve been talking to him since he was at Oregon so me and him have a tight relationship.”

Young is looking to make a decision before his senior season in August.  Young will be making visits to Oklahoma and Georgia this spring and Young sported an Alabama backpack during the camp. 

Most recently, Miami reportedly will hire Charlie Strong as their linebackers coach.  Strong was formerly the head coach at Louisville, Texas, and USF and has strong ties to the South Florida area. The Hurricanes also hired Jahmile Addae as the new defensive backs coach.  Addae coached DBs at Georgia and helped the Bulldogs win a national championship in 2021.

“They are hiring greats,” said Kirkland.  “They are hiring people with experience, people with the background, knowledge and wisdom and a track record.”

Miami ranked 19th among all schools with the 2022 class according to ESPN.  A significant change as the Hurricanes were ranked in the 30s and 40s among most recruiting websites prior to Cristobal assuming the head coaching role. 

 

About Marcus Benjamin

Marcus Benjamin works as the senior writer and editor for FootballHotbed.com. He attended Florida A&M and Florida Memorial University completing a bachelors degree in communications in 2010. He's covered high school football in the South Florida area since 2010 for the Miami Herald, Miami Sports Tribune and ShawSports.net. He is married and lives in Fort, Lauderdale, FL.
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