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. In his two years with the Blue Devils he has led them to consecutive nine-win seasons for just the second time in program history, Duke’s first outright ACC Championship since 1962, two bowl appearances, a bowl victory and eight fourth-quarter or overtime victories.

In Diaz’s 28 years of coaching, five have been as a head coach and 15 as a defensive coordinator, including 10 at the FBS Power Four level. Diaz, 52, has coached 25 bowl teams, including two in BCS national championship games.

In his second year in Durham, Diaz oversaw a squad that finished 9-5 and capped the season on a four-game winning streak that saw the program defeat North Carolina in consecutive seasons, down Wake Forest to complete the ACC in-state sweep, capture the ACC Championship with a thrilling 27-20 overtime victory against No. 16 Virginia and beat Arizona State 42-39 in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl with the game-winning touchdown scored in the final three minutes.

With Diaz’s leadership, Duke finished a four-year run that produced 35 wins, a program-record over four seasons, and 20 ACC victories, the second most in Duke history during a four-year span. His 2025 squad went 4-0 in road ACC games to extend the program’s winning streak to in such games to six, matching the Duke record.

The 2025 Blue Devil offense that Diaz oversaw set the program record for total touchdowns scored (63), points scored (484) and pass efficiency (152.53) and became the first in school history to have a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher. Aiding the effort was All-America offensive tackle Brian Parker II as well as Second Team All-ACC selections in quarterback Darian Mensah, running back Nate Sheppard and wide receiver Cooper Barkate. Duke placed 11 on the All-ACC teams and five on the Associated Press All-ACC squad.

The Blue Devils again showed Diaz’s hallmark attacking defense, finishing 11th nationally in fumbles recovered (10), 13th in turnover margin (+0.71), 14th in turnovers gained (24) and 16th in tackles for loss per game (6.6). Since 2016, Diaz’s defenses have been a force behind the line of scrimmage, ranking in the top-20 nationally in tackles for loss each year: No. 16 in 2025 (6.6), No. 2 in 2024 (8.9), No. 2 in 2023 (8.5), No. 5 in 2022 (8.0), No. 9 in 2021 (7.8), 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).

Duke’s special teams aided the nine-win season as the kickoff return unit stood third nationally with 29.6 yards per return. Sahmir Hagans earned Second Team All-ACC accolades as a return specialist, aided by a 100-yard return for a score at Clemson as the Blue Devils earned their first win in Death Valley since 1980.

As Duke’s first-year head coach, Diaz led the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record in 2024 with a 5-3 ledger in ACC action, highlighted by victories over in-state rivals North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest. He joined Mike Elko and Fred Goldsmith as the only head coaches to guide the program to bowl appearances in their initial seasons.

Individually, Diaz guided 15 Blue Devils to All-ACC honors, the most in a year in program history. First Team All-ACC cornerback 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 as 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.

Prior to joining Duke, Diaz spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Penn State. During his time in Happy Valley, 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.

A 2022 Broyles Award semifinalist, Diaz helped propel Penn State’s defense into one of the top units in the nation. During his 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 (116.4).

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 Ten pick, an FWAA Freshman All-American and a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award as a true freshman en route to becoming the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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 in 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