Here’s what Cristobal is asking of job candidates. And a dark horse starting candidate
Mario Cristobal’s patience in hiring coordinators paid off with the selection of two proven coaches who have succeeded at the highest level of the sport: Josh Gattis and Kevin Steele.
And Cristobal, in a chat with 247 Sports’ Josh Pate, offered insight into how detailed his interview process is.
For starters, candidates are sent to the whiteboard and asked to mimic what they would draw and what they would say to players.
“You are right up on the board and you are asked to explain what you do and how you do it in your own terms,” Cristobal told Pate. “Talk to us like we’re freshmen in that room for the first time and hearing it for the first time.”
Then the candidates must study UM’s film and quickly determine what the players need to do better.
“How are you going to coach it?” Cristobal asks them.
Then they’re asked to write reports on a particular player, using verbiage associated with that position, such as “balance, body control, strength, a power guy that can anchor, slide his feet.”
Next up, the coaching candidates are asked to demonstrate technique.
And then they’re “asked to stand up and present a Day 1 install at their position,” Cristobal said.
And then?
“You might get lunch if you’re lucky,” Cristobal said. “Then you talk about recruiting philosophy, your experience, how you handle a daily schedule, how you handle a spring schedule, how you set up for the year.
“I’ll wear you out if I keep going. It can go anywhere from six, seven, eight hours.”
UM has been paying coordinators far more than past years. New offensive coordinator Gattis, who was due to make $1 million at Michigan had he stayed in 2022, will make more than that at UM.
New defensive coordinator Steele also is expected to earn more than $1 million.
Cristobal is still looking to hire at least one or two more assistant coaches from outside. Special teams is among areas that must be addressed.
THIS AND THAT
▪ Perhaps the biggest surprise of the UM recruiting cycle - besides flipping tight end Jaleel Skinner from Alabama - was landing Louisiana-based four-star running back Trevonte’ Citizen.
Auburn always had been considered the favorite for Citizen, who was ranked by Rivals as the 87th best player in the 2022 class.
Citizen explained his decision to Miami Herald colleague David Wilson.
“Everybody in the country was on him,” Cristobal said. “Big speed, a power guy. A track athlete as well, cranking out great times. Massive quads, massive legs, can line up in passing plays. He’s an every down back at that size. What a blessing to [get him].”
Citizen, listed at 6 feet and 218 pounds, spoke with Clinton Portis and Frank Gore by phone during his recruiting visit to UM. He averaged 11.4 yards per carry and 124 yards a game in six games this past season, with 11 touchdowns.
In 200 career carries, he averaged 9.3 yards and scored 25 touchdowns.
It wouldn’t be shocking if Citizen beat out Don Chaney Jr., Jaylan Knighton and Henry Parrish for the starting job. This is a rare case where any one of four backs could conceivably win the starting job.
Citizen is the type of big, bruising back that Gattis seems to like.
Cristobal vows, “We’re going to be balanced. Miami is really good when we do both things really well.”
▪ Cristobal, on how UM’s players have responded early on to the strength and conditioning program run by Aaron Feld:
“These first two weeks of strength and conditioning have been really, really good. It’s a very demanding program. It’ll work you right to the brink and the response has been excellent and it has added to what we’re building culture wise.
“This time of year is the fourth quarter program. That’s the game changer.
“If I learned anything during Tuscaloosa time, the fourth quarter program plays a ginormous, a massive role in the way guys develop because it changes the way that you move, the way you come out of your hips, the way you can accelerate and come out of difficult situations, balance and body control. Even a guy that just got here or has to walk-on, even that guy has to get better to earn a role on the team.”
▪ The UM spring game - scheduled for noon on April 16 - is expected to be at Fort Lauderdale’s DRV PNK Stadium, 247 Sports reported. UM said that decision hasn’t been made.
DRV PNK Stadium is the upgraded facility on the grounds of what used to be Lockhart Stadium and the 19,100-seat home of the Inter Miami MLS team.
Hard Rock Stadium doesn’t have a conflict with tennis on that date; this year’s Miami Open is due to end April 2.
ACC Network will televise the UM spring game.
▪ Quick basketball stuff: ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi on Friday listed UM, North Carolina, Creighton and BYU as his last four teams making the NCAA Tournament at this moment, in his view. The field will be announced March 13. The Canes (17-7, 9-4 in conference) play at Wake Forest at 3 p.m. Saturday and have seven regular-season games remaining...
UM has one player in the nation’s top 50 in an individual category: Charlie Moore is 31st in steals at 3.12.
This story was originally published February 11, 2022 at 4:36 PM.
