Oregon head coach Willie Taggart has offered Mario Cristobal a senior staff position, including coaching the offensive line, sources tell FootballScoop. We are told that Cristobal has not accepted the position at this time and could wind up remaining at Alabama as Nick Saban has sought to retain Cristobal. However, we understand that Oregon is not the only Power 5 program seeking to persuade Cristobal to leave Tuscaloosa with Florida head coach Jim McElwain also considering Cristobal should Mike Summers leave the program.
Alabama plays for the national championship on Monday and recruiting goes live next Thursday, so a decision is expected shortly after the title game.
Cristobal is in his fourth season as Alabama's offensive line coach, handling tackles and tight ends this season, (Brent Key joined the staff as guard and centers coach in February) and was named a finalist for the FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year last month. He also serves as the Tide's assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator.
Alabama's offensive line won the inaugural Joe Moore Award in 2015's national championship season, given to the best offensive line unit.
Prior to Alabama, Cristobal served as the head coach at Florida International from 2007-12, peaking with a 15-11 with two bowl appearances and a share of the Sun Belt title in 2010-11.
Cristobal made his name in coaching as a top recruiter in South Florida. A former Hurricane, he jumped into coaching as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1998, then coached offensive tackles and tight ends and later the entire offensive line on Greg Schiano's Rutgers staff from 2001-03. Cristobal then returned to Miami coaching tight ends and the offensive line from 2004-06.
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