TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Alabama has hired Miami Hurricanes assistant Mario Cristobal as assistant head coach and offensive line coach.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban announced the hiring on Wednesday, just over a month after Cristobal returned to his alma mater. Cristobal replaces Jeff Stoutland, another former Miami assistant who was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 8.

Cristobal spent the past six seasons as head coach at Florida International, which fired him last month after two bowl appearances. He was hired as Miami's associate head coach and tight ends coach on Jan. 10. Cristobal played for two Hurricanes national championship teams from 1988-92, worked there as a graduate assistant and was an assistant coach from 2004-06.

Saban called it ``a very important hire'' and praised Cristobal's reputation as a coach and recruiter.