Mario Cristobal

Position:
Offensive Line Coach

Mario Cristobal returned to his roots this year when he was promoted to offensive line coach. A Miami native and former UM standout offensive lineman, he coached the Miami tight ends in 2004-05. Cristobal, 35, already is recognized as one of the top recruiters in college football.

In taking over Miami's offensive line, Cristobal will have four new starters this season, with the only holdover being center Anthony Wollschlager, so he will have his work cut out for him in his first season as the offensive line coach.

Cristobal coached the offensive line at Rutgers from 2001-2003 under former UM assistant Greg Schiano. He returned to UM in 2004. An energetic coach, Cristobal brings a wealth of successful coaching and playing experience to the position.

In his first season as tight ends coach in 2004, Cristobal tutored Kevin Everett, who was selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. Last season he mentored tight end Greg Olsen, who is now being mentioned as an All-American candidate for 2006.

At Rutgers, Cristobal worked with the offensive tackles and tight ends for two seasons before shifting his focus solely to the offensive line in 2003. Cristobal was a crucial factor in Rutgers' resurgence to respectability. During his tenure at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights improved from records of 2-9 and 1-11 to a 5-7 mark in 2003, the school's best record since 1998.

Prior to his arrival at Rutgers, Cristobal spent three seasons on the UM coaching staff, where he worked with the Hurricanes' offensive linemen as a graduate assistant.

A 1993 graduate of Miami, he was a four-year letterman and member of the Hurricanes' football team from 1988-92. As a senior, Cristobal earned All-Big East honors as an offensive tackle in 1992. He went on to a professional career before joining the coaching ranks. Cristobal signed with Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie in 1994 and played for the NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals in 1995 and 1996 before beginning his coaching career.

He joined the Miami Hurricanes staff in 1998 as a graduate assistant, working with the Hurricanes for three seasons (1998-2000) as the Miami program posted a 29-8 record, winning three bowl games and a pair of Big East Conference championships. He and his wife, Jessica, were married in June.

Personal Information
Full Name: Mario Manuel Cristobal
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Education: B.A. in business administration, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida (1993)

Cristobal's Coaching Career
2006 University of Miami (offensive line)
2004-05 University of Miami (tight ends)
2001-03 Rutgers University (tight ends, offensive line)
1998-2000 University of Miami (graduate assistant)

Bowl Games as a Coach (5)
2005 Peach Bowl
2004 Peach Bowl
2001 Sugar Bowl
2000 Gator Bowl
1998 MicronPC Bowl

Bowl Games as a Player (4)
1993 Sugar Bowl
1992 Orange Bowl
1991 Cotton Bowl
1990 Sugar Bowl

Honors as a Player

1992 First-Team All-Big East Conference offensive tackle

Offensive lineman with NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals (1995-96)

Offensive lineman with NFL's Denver Broncos (1994 preseason)

Four-year letterman as an offensive lineman at the University of Miami

Prominent Players Coached

Martin Bibla (Miami) - Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons

Kevin Everett (Miami) - Buffalo Bills

Bubba Franks (Miami) - Green Bay Packers

Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami) - Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts