Ducks elevate co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal to head coach
— -- The Oregon Ducks may have started a national search for a new head coach, but they found their guy from within their own ranks, picking co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal, the team announced Friday.?
"I'm excited and honored to be the head football coach of the Oregon Ducks," Cristobal said. "The rich tradition combined with the incredible wave of momentum that has been created throughout the season and the recruiting process is something we believe will be unstoppable, and this will lead us to fulfill the great expectations of our great University and our fan base."
Cristobal, who also was the team's?run-game coordinator and offensive line coach, was named interim head coach for the Ducks' bowl game after Willie Taggart left to? accept the job at Florida State?on Tuesday.
"Mario's leadership skills, work ethic and experience makes him a perfect fit to lead the Oregon football program," Ducks athletic director Rob Mullens said. "He has a passion for Oregon and a vision for our future success and has made a significant impact on our student-athletes during his time here. We look forward to a great future on the horizon for the Ducks under Mario's leadership."
On Thursday night, Oregon senior left tackle? Tyrell Crosby, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, tweeted that an overwhelming majority of the players on the team signed a petition backing Cristobal as the new head coach.
Cristobal joined the Ducks in January after spending four seasons as an assistant head coach at Alabama, where he also was the Crimson Tide's recruiting coordinator.
It will be his second stint as a head coach. He led Florida International?from 2007 to '12, compiling a 27-47 record. He has also been an assistant at Miami, his alma mater, and Rutgers.
The Ducks went 7-5 this season and will face Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 16.
Oregon's offense under Cristobal this season was great when quarterback Justin Herbert started. The Ducks were 6-1 and averaged 52.1 points per game behind Herbert. They were 1-4 and averaged just 15.0 PPG when Herbert did not start.
Herbert, a sophomore, is expected to play against Boise State. He is just a sophomore.
Cristobal is the third Latino head coach in the FBS, joining Tony Sanchez (UNLV) and Justin Fuente (Virginia Tech).
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