Duke hires Penn State DC and ex-Miami coach Manny Diaz to lead Blue Devils, AP source says

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Duke University has selected Manny Diaz, currently the defensive coordinator at Penn State and former head coach at Miami, to lead their football program, according to an undisclosed source with direct knowledge, as reported by The Big Big News on Thursday evening. The identity of the source remains confidential due to the ongoing finalization of the deal and the university’s impending official announcement. Diaz steps into the role vacated by Mike Elko, who accepted a position at Texas A&M.

This decision signifies a homecoming for Diaz, who returns to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the state of North Carolina. In addition to his three-year tenure as Miami’s head coach, he spent six seasons on Chuck Amato’s coaching staff from 2000 to 2005 at North Carolina State, located approximately 20 miles from Duke’s campus in Durham.

During his tenure at Miami from 2019 to 2021, Diaz achieved a 21-15 record and secured two bowl game appearances, boasting a 16-9 record in ACC competition. However, the university dismissed him on the same day they hired the current coach, Mario Cristobal, in an effort to expedite their return to national prominence.

Diaz has recently served as both the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Nittany Lions at Penn State for the past two seasons. Under his leadership, the defense ranked among the top 20 in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for both total and scoring defense in 2022. In the current season, Penn State (10-2) boasts the top-ranked total defense, allowing only 223.3 yards per game, and ranks third in scoring defense, allowing just 11.4 points per game as they prepare for the Peach Bowl showdown against Ole Miss.

Diaz’s extensive coaching career includes previous roles as defensive coordinator at Miami, Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech, Texas, and Middle Tennessee.

Elko’s departure from Duke, following 16 wins in just two seasons, marked an unusually brief coaching stint in Durham. The last time a Duke football coach remained in the role for three seasons or fewer was when Steve Spurrier left for Florida after a 1987-1989 tenure that included the program’s last ACC championship in his final season. Notably, Elko and Spurrier are the only Duke football coaches to serve for three or fewer years since 1925, encompassing the university’s time in the Southern Conference before becoming a founding ACC member in 1953.

Duke, with a season record of 7-5, is scheduled to face Troy in the Birmingham Bowl on December 23.

This hiring marks the third significant appointment in nearly three years under the leadership of athletic director Nina King, following Elko’s arrival and Jon Scheyer’s succession as the designated successor to the legendary basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, upon his retirement in 2022.

This report includes contributions from AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard.

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• Duke University
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• Texas A&M University
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