Report by Ryan Bisesi, WRAL.

Durham, N.C.

Duke University has hired a new football coach, who is already well-known in the ACC and the Triangle area.

Manny Diaz, who previously served as the head coach at Miami from 2019 to 2021, has been appointed as the new coach for the program, as announced by the school on Thursday evening. He is taking over for Mike Elko, who departed for Texas A&M after two years at Durham.

According to a statement from Duke athletic director Nina King, it became evident throughout our process that Manny Diaz is the perfect match for Duke University.

Manny’s past experiences have equipped him for this chance, and he is an exceptional football coach who will take advantage of the program’s positive momentum.

Since 2022, Diaz has served as the defensive coordinator at Penn State. This season, Penn State has the top-ranked total defense in the country, only allowing 3.91 yards per play and 223.2 yards per game in 12 games.

While serving as the head coach at the University of Miami, Diaz achieved a 21-15 overall record and led his team to two bowl game appearances. Prior to this, he had connections to the Triangle region as a defensive assistant coach at North Carolina State University in the early 2000s under Chuck Amato.

“I am honored and humbled by this opportunity and thrilled to be serving as the head football coach at Duke University,” stated Diaz. “I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Price and Nina for their confidence in me and my family, and for their dedication to this team. Duke University is a top-notch institution in all respects, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. I am extremely eager to begin working.”

In November, Elko departed from Duke after two years to become the head coach at Texas A&M. Following Elko’s departure, King named Trooper Taylor, the associate head coach and running backs coach, as the interim coach for the team.

Duke, with a record of 7 wins and 5 losses, will be playing against Troy in the Birmingham Bowl on December 23rd.

A number of important players from Duke, such as quarterback Riley Leonard and running backs Jordan Moore and Jaquez Waters, have joined the transfer portal.

According to King, Manny is skilled at communication and collaboration, and has the ability to form meaningful connections with both internal and external stakeholders within a successful football program. As the head coach at Duke, I am confident that Manny will guide our players to achieve their goals and exceed their expectations on and off the field.

Source: wralsportsfan.com