Hurricanes’ Mario Cristobal says retiring basketball coach Jim Larrañaga is ‘iconic’

ORLANDO Miami basketball coach Jim Larranaga announced his retirement on Thursday, and congratulations and statements of support for the iconic basketball coach poured in from around the UM and basketball world.

Football coach Mario Cristobal added his voice to the choir Friday.

Man that was a hard one.

Really was.

Love and respect him, Cristobal said.

I mean, he is iconic.

He is legendary.

Certainly just put that program on his back and went to work.

He will be missed tremendously.

Im going to raid his roster for tight ends and defensive ends.

Cristobal, who made one of his first appearances as UMs head coach at halftime of a Florida State-Miami basketball game, had nothing but praise for Larranaga.

I think hes an exceptional human being, Cristobal said.

I look forward to getting with him and picking his brain on leadership and on team-building and culture and getting him over and having him in front of the guys.

I know he always wants to be involved in the University of Miami.

But you couldnt ask for a better human being and for a leader for our program and young men than Coach L.

Coach L., love to you, man.

Certainly, hey, I look forward to seeing you here down the line but really appreciate everything youve done for community, for program, for the University of Miami.

Larranaga cited the changing college sports landscape as a reason why he decided to retire.

He said after UMs run to the Final Four in 2023, eight players told him they were planning to leave to seek out more NIL money elsewhere.

Cristobal has not shied away from embracing the transfer portal and NIL as ways to improve the roster, even if the system is not always optimal.

Im sure weve come across a few things that are not likable, borderline detestable, Cristobal said.

But we love football more than we love the issues that have arisen due to just changes in the game.

One thing that has stood the test of time, you either adapt or you die, right? So we are in adapt mode, and this period of time no one knows how long its going to last when theres going to be some type of order associated with it.

Until then, and hopefully this, too, shall pass in just the uncertainty of how to navigate.

Because there is no handbook.

Many of the Hurricanes top seniors will participate in Saturdays Pop-Tarts Bowl, but the postseason game is also a chance for players to develop and show their ability before taking on bigger roles next season.

Cristobal did not name any specific players who have improved during UMs month of bowl practices, but he did say several players did take the next step in their development.

I think thats what you always see during this time, the extra practices, when school is out, right, because a lot of these freshmen, school and college football, thats a lot so theres a little bit of paralysis by analysis, Cristobal said.

Just a lot ...

going on in that head and a lot to juggle for the first time in their lives.

And I think what you see now is guys that certainly have earned the opportunity to play more.

They have earned the trust of their teammates and their coaches.

To get into specifics would be difficult.

But I think it will be reflected in some of the position groups tomorrow..

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