The term “coaching carousel” is often used to describe the hiring and firing of coaches from around the country, but the University of Pittsburgh has a separate carousel all to itself. Its third head coach since November 2010, Todd Graham, just decided to take the vacant job at Arizona State.

Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson will take over as interim head coach and will coach the team in its appearance in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

However, he doesn’t seem to be the long-term answer for the program. According to multiple reports, Florida International head coach Mario Cristobal is that guy and could be hired as early as today.

He has spent all five seasons as a head coach with FIU and built it completely from the ground up. He had next to no facilities, no players and the program had just been elevated to FBS in 2005. Nevertheless, the Golden Panthers have gone to a bowl in both of the past two seasons, despite having not been to one in the school’s history before that.

When he was hired in 2006, he was the first Cuban-American head coach in FBS football. Plus, Cristobal is only 40 years old. He has a lot of coaching left in the tank.

He and Pitt would be a perfect match. His defensive style of football meshes perfectly with the city of Pittsburgh—the city is tough and the Steelers are also known for their defense. FIU currently ranks 16th in the country in points allowed per game and has got better every year with the exception of 2009.

Cristobal’s success hasn’t been immediate, but he exemplifies everything a good coach should be. The university is looking for a guy who will be there for a while, especially after the ugly way Graham decided to leave the program. He seems to be that kind of guy.

With the Panthers joining the ACC in the near future, being able to recruit Florida will be of the utmost importance and Cristobal’s roots certainly allow him to do that. It also makes him less likely to jump ship back to Florida when a good job opens there.

From every angle, Mario Cristobal would be the ideal hire for the Pitt Panthers.