Cristobal to remain at FIU

(Kristi Camara/The Beacon)

 

(Kristi Camara/The Beacon)

By Jackson Wolek/ Staff Writer

jackson.wolek@fiusm.com

Despite meeting with Rutgers, the man who inherited a 0-12 football program and brought the University two bowl game appearances, is staying put at FIU – at least for now.

Mario Cristobal has assured his recruits that he will not be the head coach at Rutgers, according to Trenton Saunders, a highly touted recruit from The Benjamin School in Palm Beach. In fact, according to a Newark Star-Ledger report, Rutgers has come to terms with Kyle Flood to become the new head coach at Rutgers. Flood was placed as the interim coach as of Jan. 26.

“He’s not going anywhere, he told me that it should all be cleared up in the next couple of hours,” said Saunders as of Jan. 30. “He told me he’s not going anywhere.”

According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Cristobal turned down a deal to become the head coach of Rutgers after several hours of negotiations. Cristobal held a meeting with his players on Jan. 30 and made calls to his recruits telling them he is staying put.

His name came up for the Rutgers position after long-time Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano left to be the new head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League. Rutgers had been paying Schiano $2.3 million per year, while Cristobal is currently earning $475,000 per year until 2016.

Cristobal has now interviewed for two head coaching gigs in just as many months.

“Coach Cristobal is doing a good job of giving us some press time,” said Adrian Jenkins, an FIU recruit, on his Twitter handle. Jenkins is a wide receiver from Jefferson High school in Tampa, Fla.

Cristobal and Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia could not be reached for comments.

Cristobal will be in his sixth year after coming to FIU in 2007. Four years later, he helped bring the school to two bowl appearances and a share of the Sun Belt Conference title in 2010. He’s 24-38 overall as the head of the program.

One of the biggest accomplishments Cristobal had at FIU was convincing T.Y. Hilton to stay his senior year in 2011. That year his team had the best record in school history, 8-5, and defeated two BCS schools, Louisville and Central Florida.

FIU will be revealing their 2012 recruiting class on National Signing Day, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. inside the R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse near FIU stadium. The 2012 recruiting class is highlighted by eight three-star recruits according to ESPN, the most that the program has ever had.

NEW COACH
According to Saunders, FIU has also found their new offensive coordinator. Tim Cramsey will replace Scott Satterfield as the head of the Panther offense. Cramsey spent nine seasons at  the University of New Hampshire, an FCS school. His offense ranked second in the Colonial Athletic Association in yards per game with 220 yards. FIU struggled last year while inside the redzone to score touchdowns, at just 48 percent, while New Hampshire scored a touchdown 33 of 58 times in the redzone (56 percent).

The Panthers are still in search for a new tight ends coach and could name a new strength and conditioning coach as early as Feb. 1.

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