Rutgers Football Will Hire Mario Cristobal To Be Next Head Coach, According To Report

Mario Cristobal will become the next head coach of Rutgers football, the New Jersey Press Media reports and the Star-Ledger's Steve Politi confirmed via Twitter. Cristobal, Florida International University's head coach since 2007, reportedly met with Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti Sunday and is currently in negotiations for a contract. Cristobal beat out current Rutgers interim head coach Kyle Flood, who interviewed for the job Saturday.

Cristobal, 41, was an assistant coach ('01-03) under former head coach Greg Schiano, who left Rutgers last Thursday to become the head coach for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For the past five seasons, Cristobal has tried to rebuild a FIU program that went 0-12 before he got there and did an excellent job. After going 1-11 in his first year, Cristobal led the Golden Panthers to back-to-back bowl bids, including a victory in the Little Caesars Bowl in 2010.

Now, the question is, will Rutgers retain Flood, who last season served as the offensive line coach and assistant head coach, and the rest of the Scarlet Knights coaching staff that has helped bring in a recruiting class currently ranked No. 45 by Scout.com?

The coaching staff also includes offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, who was also in the running for the head coaching job.

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