FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced the dismissal of Mario Cristobal from his post as head coach of the FIU football program.
“Today we informed Coach (Mario) Cristobal that a change was being made in the direction of our football program,” said Garcia. “I want to thank coach for all that he has done for develop the football program over the past six seasons. We will now turn our attention to attracting the very best candidate to fill the position of head coach. We will begin a national search immediately.”
Cristobal was head coach at FIU for six seasons, compiling an overall 27-47 record, including a 3-9 mark in 2012.
This is a mistake.
I agree.
This is how we do things at FIU? To a degree of the lowest possible standard. You reward a guy who brought FIU from the nothing to something. Who stayed with you despite having considerable greater offers. You sent him packing after one bad season. I’m ashamed to be a Golden Panther today.
So true. He could have went to Pitt for 1.2 mill but stayed here so Pete can fire him. Smh
Too true.
I will miss Cristobal. I think the team will too. I wish him all the best. It’s terrible to dismiss him during the holiday season. Where is FIU’s compassion?
While it will always be true that Coach Cristobal was the catalyst for raising FIU’s fledgling football program, any NCAA Division 1 school must show progress in order to attract outstanding student athletes.
We all salute Mario Cristobal’s efforts and vision – he made Golden Panthers everywhere proud to connected to football’s genesis at our Alma Mater.
He will find success with another program – of that I am certain.
Whomever is chosen to replace Cristobal will represent a strong signal regarding the commitment of the University toward a winning program.
The challenge is exciting!
Will it be a youthful “Rising Star”, or a veteran coach with a solid reputation? Either way, recruiting ability should be a top consideration.
FIU’s standing in the academic community is stellar. Our sports programs should be no less.
i dont like it im thinking about going to fiu
morons..you’re program was a joke. became respectable and once again will be a joke with this firing..enjoy!
They should fire Pete Garcia. I see the guy almost all the time and say hi to him from now on, all he gets is either nothing or a what’s up genius? Pete Garcia should take into consideration what the students want. Cristobal got this team straight after a whole lot of NCAA violations by other teams and the department that cost the football team scholarships. He brought the team from a mess to a better organized program.
Horrible mistake to fire OUR football coach. Unless you have a really good coach to replace him, there was no reason to fire a guy who put OUR program on the NATIONAL Football map.
Reality Bites:
“It’s the new economics of the the power conferences with all this re-alignment,” said Mark Conrad, who teaches sports business at Fordham University. “Coaches will have a much shorter leash when it comes to winning.”
Conrad noted that Auburn football coach Gene Chizik was fired last month after a 3-9 season this year— but just two years removed from winning a national championship.
“These coaches are going to be gone much sooner than in the past if they don’t win and they’ll be under so much pressure to recruit the best players, and the players will have to perform well,” Conrad added. “The competition is going to be fierce.”
This is a shame. Why wasn’t Pete Garcia fired? Everyone agrees this team struggled, but it played well down the stretch with tons of injuries.
I have seen no fan, alumni or booster revolt. Only at FIU could a coach take over a winless program on NCAA probation, in 6 seasons, take them to two bowl games, a conference title, improve the academics of the students and draw more fans, donations and season ticket holders AND GET FIRED!!!
Brian Jenkins the head coach at bcc should be the next head coach at fiu.