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Mario Cristobal is one of many big names on a star-studded Alabama staff. Nick Saban hired the former Florida International head coach away from Miami’s staff before the 2013 season to be his offensive line coach. Cristobal has recruiting ties to South Florida, but has a reach that extends across the Southeast.
Cristobal has helped put together offensive lines that have dominated the past two seasons, ranking first and third in the SEC in sacks allowed in 2014 and 2013, respectively. He’s also been instrumental in bringing in several big-time commitments in his two years in Tuscaloosa.
Cristobal’s top all-time commits at Alabama
- Five-star LT Cam Robinson, West Monroe, La. (2014 class)
- Five-star WR Calvin Ridley, Pompano Beach, Fla. (2015 class)
- Five-star CB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jersey City, N.J. (2015 class)
Current targets
- Five-star OT Martez Ivey, Apopka, Fla. (2015 class)
- Four-star RB Jacques Patrick, Orlando, Fla. (2015 class)
- Four-star DT Daron Payne, Birmingham, Ala. (2015 class)
Salary
- 2014: $500,000
History with Crimson Tide
Cristobal was an up-and-coming coach when Florida International brought him over from his alma mater Miami in 2007 to be its new head coach. FIU had only had a football program for six years at that point, and Cristobal was their first coach hired at the Division I-A/FBS level. Cristobal went 27-47 in six years, getting the Panthers to two bowl games before being fired after 2012.
Cristobal landed on his feet back at Miami as offensive line coach in January 2013, but a month later Saban came calling. Alabama’s offensive line needed rebuilding after former line coach moved up to the NFL level with the Philadelphia Eagles. Cristobal came in and immediately hit the recruiting trail, offering more than 10 recruits in his first months on the job. That continues this year, as Alabama has landed four four-star linemen and just flipped a former LSU commit.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
