Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti is a busy man. After learning of Greg Schiano's departure for the NFL, Pernetti added himself to the Rutgers coaching staff to allow for contact with recruits. Now, Pernetti is out trying to his best to recruit a head coach. Reports surfaced earlier that Pernetti had a few names in mind and now sources are telling the New Jersey Star-Ledger that Pernetti has met with at least one of those targets.
Tom Luicci writes that Pernetti obtained permission to and has interviewed Florida International head coach Mario Cristobal for the vacant head coaching position this weekend. With recruiting nearing an end and a no contact period beginning, Pernetti is hoping to find a coach as quickly as possible. Cristobal is one of the rising stars in coaching after helping to rebuild a nearly dead FIU program and this year leading it to a win over a BCS conference team and to a bowl game. Cristobal's profile is very similar to Schiano's when he first came to Rutgers. He's a Miami native with a defensive background that is viewed as a high energy guy and a tireless recruiter. Cristobal was also an assistant under Schiano at Rutgers from 2001-2003.