Manny Diaz - Head Coach - Football Coaches

Manny Diaz

Title:
Head Coach

Manny Diaz was named the 23rd head football coach at Duke University on December 7, 2023, and in his first season with the Blue Devils led the program to nine regular season victories, the second most in a year in program history.

In Diaz’s 27 years of coaching, four have been as a head coach and 15 as a defensive coordinator, including 10 at the FBS Power 4 level. Diaz, 51, has coached 24 bowl teams, including in two BCS national championship games. He guided Duke to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl during his initial season with the Blue Devils.

As Duke’s first-year head coach, Diaz led the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record with a 5-3 ledger in ACC action, highlighted by victories over in-state rivals North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest. He tied Mike Elko for the most wins by a Duke first-year head coach and joined Elko and Fred Goldsmith as the only three to guide the program to bowl appearances in their initial seasons.

In year one of Diaz’s leadership, the Blue Devils showed his hallmark attacking defense, finishing second nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.9), second in fumbles recovered (14), fourth in sacks per game (3.3), seventh in turnovers gained (27) and 24th in turnover margin (+0.62). Since 2016, Diaz’s defenses have been a force behind the line of scrimmage, ranking in the top-10 nationally in tackles for loss each year: No. 2 in 2024 (8.9), No. 2 in 2023 (8.4), No. 5 in 2022 (8.0), No. 9 in 2021 (7.75), No. 4 in 2020 (8.6), No. 4 in 2019 (8.3), No. 1 in 2018 (10.5), No. 4 in 2017 (8.5) and No. 5 in 2016 (8.3).

Individually, Diaz guided 15 Blue Devils to All-ACC honors, the most in a year in program history. First Team All-ACC cornerback selection Chandler Rivers capped his outstanding campaign with All-America honors from four publications. Safety Terry Moore and linebacker Alex Howard also earned All-America accolades. In addition, wide receiver Eli Pancol was the recipient of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2024 Brian Piccolo Award for being the league’s comeback player of the year.

Duke’s special teams were also a strength during Diaz’s first year as the Blue Devils ranked 11th nationally in blocked kicks (three), 18th in punt return defense (4.5) and 20th in kickoff return average (24.2). Punter Kade Reynoldson garnered 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team honors and redshirt freshman Que’Sean Brown was an honorable mention All-ACC choice as a punt returner.

Prior to joining Duke, Diaz spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Penn State. During his time in Happy Valley with head coach James Franklin, Diaz helped the Nittany Lions to a 21-4 (.840) record and back-to-back bowl appearances, including a 35-21 Rose Bowl win over No. 8 Utah to cap the 2022 season.

The 2022 Broyles Award semifinalist helped propel Penn State’s defense into one of the top units in the nation. During Diaz’s two-year stretch, the Nittany Lions ranked in the top-25 in third down defense, fumbles recovered, passes intercepted, rushing defense, scoring defense, sacks, tackles for loss, total defense, turnover margin and turnovers gained. Additionally, Penn State ranked first in the country in 2023 in first downs allowed (181), seventh in passing yards allowed per game (172.1) and 11th in passing efficiency defense (116.44).

During his short tenure with the Nittany Lions, Diaz mentored 23 All-Big Ten selections, including four first team recipients. He had a hand in the development of Abdul Carter, who was a Second Team All-Big Team pick, an FWAA Freshman All-American and a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award as a true freshman before garnering a first team All-Big Ten nod in 2023.

Prior to his time at Penn State, Diaz spent six seasons at Miami, three as the head coach (2019-21) and three as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2016-18). During his time at the helm, he coached the Hurricanes to three consecutive bowl appearances and tied for the second most ACC wins in the league, trailing only Clemson.

Miami’s 2021 squad finished the regular season winning five of its last six games, including wins over top-20 opponents in No. 18 NC State and No. 17 Pittsburgh. In addition, Diaz guided freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to ACC Rookie of the Year honors. The 2020 Hurricanes finished 8-3 (7-2 ACC) overall, marking the second time with Diaz on staff as well as the second time in program history Miami won seven ACC games. That team concluded the year 18th in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

Before taking over as head coach, Diaz directed a Hurricane defensive unit that ranked fourth nationally in total defense (278.90) in 2018, while also finishing that season first in tackles for loss (10.5 per game), third down conversion defense (.253) and passing defense (135.60).

From 2018 to 2020, Miami featured at least one player with 15 tackles for loss in Jaelan Phillips (15.5) in 2020, Gregory Rousseau (19.5) in 2019 and Jonathan Garvin (18.0) in 2018. All went on to be NFL Draft selections.

During the 2017 campaign, the Hurricanes ranked first nationally in sacks (3.38 per game), fourth in tackles for loss (8.5 per game), eighth in fumble recoveries (14) and 15th in interceptions (17). In addition, Miami won the 2017 ACC Coastal Division and earned a berth into the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Diaz joined Mark Richt’s Miami staff as defensive coordinator in 2016 and helped the Hurricanes rank fifth nationally in tackles for loss (up from 105th in 2015), tied for eighth in touchdowns allowed (up from 61st), ninth in yards allowed per play (up from 86th), 12th in scoring defense (up from 77th), 20th in total defense (up from 69th) and 22nd in sacks (up from 70th).

Prior to his tenure in Coral Gables, Diaz served as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State for the 2015 season, when the 9-4 Bulldogs capped the year with a 51-28 victory over NC State. The Bulldogs limited opponents to just 23.2 points per game that season and ranked in the nation’s top 10 in red zone defense and tackles for loss.

Before Mississippi State, Diaz served as the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech, where he helped guide the 2014 squad to a nation-best 42 takeaways, including an impressive 26 interceptions. Prior to his arrival at Louisiana Tech, he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Texas (2011-13) under head coach Mack Brown.

During his first stint at Mississippi State (2010), the Bulldogs ranked 13th nationally in red zone defense (.730), 17th in rushing defense (214.90) and tackles for loss per game (7.0), and 22nd in scoring defense (19.9) and takeaways (28).

Diaz also had stops at Middle Tennessee and NC State early in his career. He served as the Blue Raiders’ defensive coordinator for four seasons, while also mentoring the linebackers (2008-09) and safeties (2006-07). During his time with the Wolfpack, he was a graduate assistant (2000-01) before being promoted to assistant coach in charge of the linebackers (2002-03) and safeties and special teams (2004-05).

Diaz began his coaching career at his alma mater Florida State (1998-99) as a graduate assistant and was part of the university’s national championship staff in 1999.

A native of Miami, Fla., Diaz graduated from Florida State with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1995.

Diaz is married to the former Stephanie Cerow of Melbourne, Fla., and they are the parents of three sons, Colin, Gavin and Manny.

THE MANNY DIAZ FILE
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Education: Florida State, 1995 (Communications)
Wife: Stephanie
Children: Colin, Gavin and Manny
Birthday: March 13, 1974

DIAZ'S COACHING CAREER