Mario Cristobal leaves Oregon Ducks football program for Miami Hurricanes coaching job

Mario Cristobal is heading home to the U.

Cristobal left Oregon to become Miami’s head football coach on Monday.

Sources told ESPN that Cristobal’s contract at Miami will be in the range of $8 million annually, and that Miami also plans to pay his $9 million buyout at Oregon.

“My family and I are excited to return home to the University of Miami, which has been so instrumental in shaping me as a person, player, and coach,” Cristobal said in a statement. “This program has an unparalleled tradition and an exciting future ahead of it. I can’t wait to compete for championships and help mold our student-athletes into leaders on and off the field who will make our University, our community, and our loyal fan base proud.”

Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens told reporters Monday that Miami never reached out to him to express interest in talking to Cristobal.

“The usual courtesy is to reach out to the institution, and that never happened,” he said.

However, he said he was well aware that Miami was interested in Cristobal.

“We understand that’s the alma mater, that’s home and all the elements that go into it,” he said.

Mullens said that he isn’t sure which assistant coaches will follow Cristobal to Miami. Once that becomes clear, Oregon will name an interim coach.

Cristobal informed Ducks players of his decision at a team meeting Monday in Eugene. Just before the Oregon meeting, Miami announced the firing of coach Manny Diaz and a forthcoming hire of Diaz’s replacement. Cristobal is a Miami native, was a Hurricanes offensive lineman for two national championship teams, and a Miami assistant from 2004 to 2006.

Miami has aggressively pursued Cristobal for several weeks to replace Diaz, and it ramped up its efforts…