Contract extension for Head Coach Mario Cristobal


Head Coach Mario Cristobal following the team's 34-32 win over Toledo in the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, Mich.

Head Football Coach Mario Cristobal, who led the program to its first-ever conference championship and first-ever bowl appearance and victory in 2010, has signed a new contract extension with the university through the 2016 season.

“We are very excited to be able to sign Coach Cristobal to a new 5-year contract extension,” FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia said. “He has done a tremendous job in getting this football program to excel on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We believe we have one of the best coaches in college football and that our program will continue to rise to even greater heights under his leadership.”

“I want to thank Pete Garcia for having the confidence in me to continue building a championship program here at FIU,” Cristobal said. “I deeply appreciate his commitment to me and to the future of FIU football. FIU is a special place and the ongoing support from the entire Panther community is overwhelming. This is a university on the rise and to be a part of that is an honor and a privilege. We will continue to work tirelessly to establish a program that FIU and the entire South Florida community can be proud of. This is an exciting time for FIU football.”

Cristobal was named the 2010 Sun Belt Coach of the Year. Last season, he led the Panthers to their first-ever victory against conference rival Troy, and a thrilling, 31-24, victory over Arkansas State on Nov. 27 at Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.

Cristobal has been one of the nation’s best recruiters during his four-year career at FIU, attracting some of the best high school and junior college talent to South Florida, including this year’s class, considered to be the best in the Sun Belt Conference.

In the classroom, the football program has excelled under Cristobal. Under his leadership, FIU has registered 86 all-conference academic honorees. This past year, football recorded its highest multi-year APR score, registering a 936, 30 points better than the previous year’s score. Since the arrival of Cristobal, the football team’s multi-year APR score has improved by 51 points.

Now entering his fifth season at FIU, Cristobal was named the program’s second head coach on December 19, 2006.

The 2011 season kicks off at Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1, versus the North Texas Mean Green. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. FIU football season tickets start as low as $42. For more information, call the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME.