As we begin to move closer to the start of a new college football season in Happy Valley, the staff at Nittnay Lions Wire is spending some time sounding off on some big questions facing the Nittany Lions this fall. Today’s focus is on the new defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz.
Diaz, most recently the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, replaces Brent Pry, now the head coach at Virginia Tech. He brings with him a respected defensive coordinator profile. What are your expectations for the Penn State defense under Diaz in 2022, and how long do you think Diaz sticks around as a member of the Penn State coaching staff?
Sam Dehrig, Contributor
@sam_dehring68
The Manny Diaz hire might be one of the biggest wins for Penn State this offseason. This hire came just 11 days after Brent Pry left to be the next head coach at Virginia Tech. Diaz was with Miami for six seasons, where he went 7-5 in 2021 with an abysmal 77th ranking in the country in total defense. However, let’s not forget the success Diaz has had as a defensive coordinator.
First, Diaz was a defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State for four years, where he led the conference in sacks and tackles for a loss twice.
Diaz also spent 13 seasons, including MTSU, as a defensive coordinator and 12 as a linebackers coach. Let me repeat that last part. Manny Diaz is coming to “Linebacker U” with 12 seasons of productiveness at other schools. His experience at Florida State, NC State, Middle Tennessee State, Temple Louisiana Tech, Texas, and Miami.
Diaz doesn’t have great experience as a head coach. However, I don’t think it will take long for Diaz to land another head coaching job, especially if he does well at Penn State, given the productive talent that they have.
Despite the struggles Diaz had as a head coach, I still think that his expectations as Penn State’s defensive coordinator will be somewhat high if he does want another head coaching job in the future. However, I do think Diaz is one of those coaches that isn’t a good head coach but an elite defensive coordinator. Diaz is in a perfect position to succeed at Penn State, given the amount of defensive talent that they have.
However, it is possible Diaz only lasts around 2-3 years before someone hires him as a head coach if he does well at Penn State.
Penn State has lost a good amount of talent the past two seasons on their defense. However, they do still have a talented class of 2022 recruits coming in for next season, and…