Mario Cristobal Leaves Oregon For University Of Miami

EUGENE, OR —After several days of speculation, University of Miami announced Mario Cristobal as its new football coach on Monday. Cristobal had spent the last four seasons in charge at Oregon.

Miami announced the hire with a tweet that said "Welcome Home Mario Cristobal." As a standout offensive lineman with the Hurricanes, Cristobal helped lead the team to national championships in 1989 and 1991.

"My family and I are excited to return home to the University of Miami, which has been so instrumental in shaping me as a person, player and coach," Cristobal said in a statement. "This program has an unparalleled tradition and an exciting future ahead of it. I can't wait to compete for championships and help mold our student-athletes into leaders on and off the field who will make our university, our community and our loyal fan base proud."

Miami and Cristobal agreed to a 10-year contract worth $80 million, according to the Miami Herald.

Earlier Monday, the University of Miami announced the firing of head coach Manny Diaz, clearing the way for the 51-year-old Cristobal's arrival.

In Cristobal's four seasons in Eugene, the Ducks captured two Pac-12 titles. His teams went 35-13 overall and 23-10 in Pac-12 play.

Currently ranked No. 15, the Ducks lost 38-10 to Utah in Friday's Pac-12 Championship Game.

On Sunday, the Ducks (10-3) learned they would face No. 14 Oklahoma (10-2) in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29. Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said the program would name an interim head coach as soon as possible.

According to The Oregonian, Cristobal was in the second year of a contract that recently was extended through the 2026 season. The coach earned $4.3 million this season, and the contract included an additional $700,000 in performance incentives.

However, the newspaper reported that by leaving, Cristobal will forfeit those performance incentives, plus a $300,000 retention bonus. The coach also owes Oregon a $9 million buyout.

Oregon announced that it will begin a nationwide search for the program's next head coach.

"We appreciate all of Mario's accomplishments and hard work here at Oregon, and we wish him and his family all the best in their next chapter," Mullens said in a statement. "The University of Oregon is a prestigious academic institution with a football program that is well-positioned for continued success in the future, and the search is underway to find another excellent football coach to lead and support our student-athletes moving forward."