Ad Disclosure
Manny Diaz, Penn State DC, expected to leave for head coaching job
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Manny Diaz is reportedly leaving his post as Penn State’s defensive coordinator to be a head coach again. Duke has zeroed in on Diaz as its top target to be the next head coach of the Blue Devils.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Thursday that Diaz has emerged as the focus of Duke’s search. FootballScoop goes a step further, reporting that Diaz is expected to be named the next head coach of the Blue Devils.
Diaz has head coaching experience in the ACC at Miami. In 3 seasons under Diaz, the Hurricanes were 21-15, going to 3 bowl games. Diaz was fired after the 2021 season, before the Canes played in the Sun Bowl, for UM to hire Mario Cristobal away from Oregon.
Days after being fired by Miami, Diaz was hired by Penn State, joining James Franklin’s staff as defensive coordinator. Under Diaz, the Nittany Lions have had one of the nation’s top units.
In 2022, Penn State finished first nationally with 85 pass breakups and had 4 games with double-digit PBUs in 2022. The Nittany Lions tied for seventh in takeaways and tied for ninth in scoring defense last season while leading the Big Ten with 104 tackles for loss (T-4th nationally) and 42 sacks (T-6th).
Through the end of the 2023 regular season, PSU leads all FBS teams, allowing just 3.91 yards per play. The Nittany Lions are also the B1G’s top rushing defense at just 2.16 yards per carry for under 70 yards per game, a mark that is just behind UCLA among Power 5 programs.
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.