Oregon promotes Cristobal to head coach

Dec 9, 2017 - 4:42 AM Oregon promoted co-offensive coordinator and interim coach Mario Cristobal to head coach, the school announced Friday.

The deal with the 47-year-old Cristobal was being finalized Friday morning, a source told ESPN.

"I'm excited and honored to be the head football coach of the Oregon Ducks," said Cristobal. "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 also was the team's run-game coordinator and offensive line coach. He had been named interim head coach earlier in the week for the Ducks' bowl game after Willie Taggart left after one season to accept the job at Florida State on Tuesday.

The Ducks went 7-5 this season and will face Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 16.

"Mario's leadership skills, work ethic, and experience makes him a perfect fit to lead the Oregon football program," said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. "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 Ducks under Mario's leadership."

On Thursday night, Oregon senior left tackle Tyrell Crosby, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, tweeted: "Had an 70+ players signed petition to keep Cristobal as head coach. We are all fighting so hard for him to be HC, because we all know he'd fight just as hard for us."

Cristobal joined the Ducks a year ago with Taggart after spending four seasons at Alabama, where he was an assistant head coach and the Crimson Tide's recruiting coordinator.

Cristobal was head coach at Florida International from 2007-12, compiling a 27-47 record in six seasons and taking the Panthers to their first two bowl games.