Alabama Football: Mario Cristobal credits Nick Saban and might be next in line

Oregon Head Coach, Mario Cristobal credits Nick Saban for his post-Florida International career. Could Cristobal be the next Alabama football head coach?

In a spring without Alabama football, there is time to look back and look forward. Oregon Ducks, Head Coach Mario Cristobal was doing it earlier this week. Cristobal is highly respected among his peers. College football fans are starting to understand why Cristobal might become an elite coach.

Cristobal did tremendous work building football at Florida International. During the young program’s third season in 2006, the Panthers were 0-12, having won just eight games in three seasons. Cristobal had spent nine seasons as a graduate assistant or assistant coach at Miami (his alma mater) and Rutgers. His first season as the Panthers’ head coach, FIU was 1-11.

In 2008 and 2009, FIU was 5-7 and 3-9. The school’s first winning season, including a bowl win, came in 2010. The following season FIU was 8-5. After the Panthers slumped to 3-9 in 2012, Cristobal was fired.

A head coach with a 27-47 record does not find his next head coaching gig easily. Mario Cristobal became one of Nick Saban’s reclamation projects. Saban respected Cristobal as a coach and valued him as a recruiter. He joined Alabama football as Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Line coach and Recruiting Coordinator.

Cristobal spent four seasons working for Nick Saban. Recently, Cristobal reflected on how Saban and Alabama football changed his career.

"He (Saban) is the ultimate teacher. All I have to say about him are just positive stuff because he is demanding in the right kind of way, he is a teacher by trade, that’s what he is. He will give you a Ph.D. in coaching, not only in the game of football but also mentoring in the offseason program, practice regimentation, recruiting …"

Cristobal left Tuscaloosa to become a Co-Offensive Coordinator for Willie Taggart at Oregon. When Taggart left abruptly in less than a year, Cristobal became the Ducks head coach. What he has done in quickly rebuilding the Ducks has all of college football paying attention.

In Cristobal’s two Oregon seasons, the Ducks were 21-7. Last year’s 12 wins included a Rose Bowl victory. He is quick to credit Nick Saban for what has been accomplished in Eugene.

"If you come to our practice, you’d wonder if you were (at Alabama) or here. That is a real-deal blueprint of what you want from your very own (program) in terms of development, toughness, and competitiveness."

Alabama football fans know at some point there will be a successor to Nick Saban. Many Crimson Tide fans are thinking the best choice would be a coach who would not deviate from Nick’s detailed recipe for winning championships. That coach could be Mario Cristobal.

The Oregon Ducks and the Utah Utes have become the new top dogs in the Pac 12. The Ducks are predicted to have another Top 10 season in 2020.