Just a couple of hours after the news broke that former Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal would be leaving the Ducks to take the job with the Miami Hurricanes, Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens met with media members to answer questions about the situation and provide a plan for the upcoming coaching search.
While the entire situation is still very fresh and there are a lot of moving pieces, Mullens did a great job of expressing his appreciation for Cristobal, as well as laying out a plan for where things go from here when it comes to the coaching search and preparing for both early signing day and a bowl game. Here are the major points that Mullens made in the press conference:
Mullens: “I’m trying to get an understanding of who is going with Mario immediately. Once I have that, then we will have an interim coach.”
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) December 6, 2021
Oregon AD Rob Mullens is talking to the media now.
Says they’ve been talking contract with Cristobal for a couple of weeks. Talks intensified going into Pac-12 title game.
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) December 6, 2021
Rob Mullens said he was in “around the clock” communication with Cristobal since Friday’s Pac-12 title game, and they had a final conversation this morning. Now, “the priority is absolutely the student-athletes, and that’s what I’ve been spending my morning on.” #GoDucks
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) December 6, 2021
Rob Mullens was asked what Oregon will do to ensure its players don’t follow Cristobal to Miami.
He said Cristobal “encouraged (Oregon’s) players to continue the path that they’re on.”
— Jarrid Denney (@jarrid_denney) December 6, 2021
“My phone is blowing up. There is no shortage of interest. It’s about finding the right leader.
“Oregon football is going to be better than ever. We are going to crank up the search this afternoon.”
Oregon AD Rob Mullens.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) December 6, 2021
Rob Mullens would not/could not comment on the status of individual assistant coaches. Said he will leave it up to them to announce whether they will or won’t follow Cristobal to Miami.
— Jarrid Denney (@jarrid_denney) December 6, 2021
“Miami never reached out to me.”
Rob Mullens says that the courtesy is usually that a team usually provides the courtesy of wanting to talk to your coach. Says that never happened.
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) December 6, 2021
Mullens on Cristobal: “He’s one of the hardest workers in college football.”
“I totally understand the conflict that he was going through. I’m sure he dreamed of being a head coach there one day, and here he is several years later with that dream in his lap.”
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) December 6, 2021
Rob Mullens says that Parker Executive to help Oregon with hiring its new head coach. Said they’ll also lean on a lot of their supports, many who have business and sports backgrounds to aid them in the search. A lot of people internally at Oregon will help too.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) December 6, 2021
List
6 candidates to replace Mario Cristobal as Oregon Ducks head coach
