The Pittsburgh Steelers have talked to almost 10 candidates for their head coaching vacancy. All of them are current NFL coaches or a former one in the case of Mike McCarthy. It hasn\u2019t been reported that the Steelers have been in contact with any college coaches for their opening. However, Brian Baldinger revealed University of Miami (FL) head coach Mario Cristobal could be a name to watch as the Steelers\u2019 next head coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot out here trying to play reporter or doing any of that nonsense, but I hear the Steelers are very interested in Mario Cristobal, the coach at the University of Miami,\u201d Baldinger said recently on The Best Football Show podcast.<\/a> \u201cI think Mario Cristobal actually would really translate to the NFL. I watched his practice in the spring. The way that Mario coached that team reminded me of what old-school coaches used to do.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear who Baldinger has talked to, but Cristobal hasn\u2019t been brought up by anyone else in connection to the Steelers. Curt Cignetti and Marcus Freeman were the college coaches who generated some buzz around the Steelers\u2019 opening. However, reports have indicated that<\/a> neither plan on leaving college football.<\/p>\n While the initial reaction might be to scoff, consider two facts. Cristobal grew up a \u201cdie-hard\u201d Steelers fan<\/a>, according to ESPN. He also was a front runner for the Pitt Panthers\u2019 head coaching job<\/a> when he coached at Florida International, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.<\/p>\n \u201cCristobal interviewed with Pitt last week \u2014 and he also interviewed with the school a year ago in the search after Dave Wannstedt was fired \u2014 but asked the school to hold off on any further discussions until after his team finishes the season tonight with an appearance in the Beef \u2018O\u2019 Brady\u2019s Bowl against Marshall in St. Petersburg, Fla,\u201d the paper wrote at the time.<\/p>\n