Oregon's promotion of Mario Cristobal as head coach hardly looked like a great idea as of the second quarter of the Las Vegas Bowl last December, when the Ducks trailed Boise State 24-0.
The eventual 38-28 loss marked a poor start for Cristobal, but he’s positioned to succeed immediately. Of the Pac-12′s five programs with new coaches in 2018, Oregon has the most returning talent and some continuity, with Cristobal having coached the offensive line last season.
He brings head coaching experience from his Florida International tenure and a background of working under Nick Saban at Alabama.