Mark Stoops has third-best odds to be Miami’s next head coach

Not long after it was announced Mark Richt was retiring, Mark Stoops’ name immediately popped up for the Miami Hurricanes’ next head coach.

Now, you can bet on who will be Miami’s next coach, and Stoops has the second-best odds:

‘The field’ is the clubhouse leader right now, followed by Oregon Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal, then Stoops.

Like Stoops, Cristobal has deep ties in the state of Florida. He previously coached at Miami as their tight ends (2004-05) and offensive line coach (2006).

Cristobal also spent six seasons as head coach at Florida International. He did just sign one of the top recruiting classes in the nation at Oregon, who finished the 2018 season with an 8-4 record, so he may not be willing to leave a great situation for what’s likely a major overhaul at Miami.

For what it’s worth, of the names mentioned above (and not counting Urban Meyer since he’s now retired), there’s no question Stoops did the best coaching job with his team in 2018 by going 9-3 in the toughest conference in college football. That has to make him a very attractive candidate for the Hurricanes, who probably will hire a coach with ties to Florida, something Stoops has plenty of from his stints at Miami and Florida State.

I still think Stoops stays at Kentucky even if he’s offered the job, but it’s becoming clear that he’s a serious candidate for the Hurricanes. Perhaps a new contract extension is in order from Mitch Barnhart.