Miami made a major commitment in firing Manny Diaz to hire Mario Cristobal, and a year and a half later we're learning just how major of a commitment it was.
According to tax documents obtained by USA Today, Miami paid out $22.7 million in total compensation to Cristobal in 2022, the largest single-year payment to an athletics employee at any private university on record. Cristobal's figure fell narrowly behind former University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann, who was credited with $22.8 million in compensation in 2021, but most of that was deferred compensation.
The previous record for total compensation paid to an athletics employee at a private university was TCU's Gary Patterson, who made $17.2 million in 2021, the year he departed the school.
Of that nearly $23 million financial outlay, $7.7 million came in base pay and $14.9 million was in "other reportable compensation." Most of that $14.9 million in other compensation was the $9 million buyout Miami owed Oregon.
Cristobal's contract is a reported $80 million over 10 years.
After going 35-13 with two Pac-12 championships in four seasons in Eugene, Cristobal is 12-13 in two seasons at Miami.
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