Florida Atlantic has hired Tom Herman to be its next football coach, and Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will not be going to Boca Raton, Brett McMurphy of the Action Network first reported.
Former Texas & Houston coach Tom Herman has been hired as FAU’s new coach, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Herman was 54-22 in 6 seasons – 32-18 at Texas & 22-4 at UH. Herman’s teams were perfect 5-0 in bowl games, including 2 New Year’s 6 bowls
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2022
Diaz and Penn State running backs coach JaJuan Seider reportedly were candidates for the job, and a source confirmed to Cole Thompson of FanNation that Diaz was a finalist.
Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was also a finalist for the position, source confirms. https://t.co/p9FwsQtY7a
— Cole Thompson (@MrColeThompson) December 1, 2022
Diaz wrapped up a successful first season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator. His unit finished fourth in the Big Ten in points allowed, fourth in rushing defense and second in defensive efficiency. Diaz came to Penn State after three years as the University of Miami’s head coach, where he got fired after the 2021 season. He finished with a 21-15 record at Miami, and that’s his overall record as a head coach.
Had Diaz been named the Florida Atlantic head coach, he’d have left Penn State and returned to Florida, where he grew up, attended college (Florida State) and coached at Miami for six seasons, starting as its defensive coordinator, a job he held from 2016 to 2018. Diaz’s father, Manny Diaz Sr., was the Mayor of Miami from 2001-09.
Herman is getting back in the game after two seasons away from college football. He was Houston’s head coach from 2015-16 before taking the Texas job, which he held from 2017-20 before getting fired after the 2020 season. Herman’s head coaching record is 54-22. He has a distant connection to Penn State. Current Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich was Herman’s OC and quarterbacks coach at Texas in 2020.
If Diaz doesn’t land a head coaching gig, he’ll run Penn State’s defense in the school’s bowl game. We’ll find out when, where and who Penn State will play Sunday.
