Earlier today, reports indicated that Alabama assistant coach and ace recruiter Mario Cristobal had accepted a position as co-offensive coordinator with Willie Taggart’s first staff at Oregon.
It looks like that has become official, as Cristobal hopped on the phone with TideSports.com to discuss his four years in Tuscaloosa and how much they meant to him as he enters the next chapter of his career.
“(I’m) indebted forever for the most incredible coaching experience anyone can ever imagine,” Cristobal said. “I mean, the Crimson Tide family took me in and never did a day go by when I didn’t pour my entire heart and soul into it. It’s difficult to say goodbye. (It was) the most amazing group of young men you could ever have in one locker room and one program.
“It’s bittersweet. It really is. I wish we could’ve delivered one more there at the very end. But I know those guys, I know what they’re about to do next year and in the coming years. It’s the love and the appreciation I have for the guys in that locker room, the coaching staff, someone who doesn’t get enough credit Miss Terry (Saban), they really make you family and they provided us with an experience and a ride that you can only dream of in the profession. (I’m) thankful and grateful beyond words.
Cristobal had been with the Crimson Tide since 2013, playing a vital role with recruiting (he won National Recruiter of the Year in 2015) while building one of the best offensive line units in the nation on an annual basis.
Read the full interview here.
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
