Just over 24 hours after coach Todd Graham bolted from Pittsburgh to take the head coaching position at Arizona State, it appears the brass in Oakland may already be narrowing their choices for his replacement. WPXI's Rich Walsh tweets that Florida International's Mario Cristobal is currently a frontrunner.
Cristobal just finished his fifth season with the Golden Panthers of the Sun Belt and has a 24-37 career record as a head coach. After losing seasons in his first three years at Florida International, however, he has led his team to back-to-back bowl appearances in 2010 and 2011, as well as a conference title last year. The 8-4 Golden Panthers will face Marshall in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl on Dec. 20.
The 41-year old played his college football at Miami (FL) and served as as assistant with both the Hurricanes and Rutgers before taking the job at FIU in 2007.
For the latest on the Pitt coaching search, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.