Manny Diaz linked to SEC head coaching vacancy
Manny Diaz is a potential candidate for the Mississippi State head coaching job, according to a report.
That’s per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, who noted Diaz amongst several other potential candidates in a new story published on Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs parted ways with Zach Arnett on Monday morning, making him the second SEC coach to be fired so far this weekend.
Diaz is in his second season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator. The Nittany Lions have been excellent on that side of the ball since his arrival. He also has head coaching experience at Miami and has been an assistant at several other high-level programs.
Most notably, Diaz was the defensive coordinator Mississippi State back in 2010 and again in 2015. Here’s Rittenberg’s analysis on his potential candidacy:
Mississippi State isn’t expected to consider many coordinators in its search, but Diaz certainly would be an exception. He would bring previous head-coaching experience from Miami, where he went 21-15 with a No. 22 AP finish before being dumped when Mario Cristobal became available. Although Diaz didn’t break through at Miami, the team’s uneven play before and after his arrival underscores that bigger problems exist at the U. He has done an excellent job at Penn State, which ranks in the top five in most defensive categories this season. Diaz, 49, also twice served as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator, most recently in 2015, and also has coordinator stints at Miami, Texas, Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee. He should soon get another head-coaching chance.
Penn State will be in action again on Saturday against Rutgers.