Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz might not have been the favorite to win the Broyles Award, presented annually to college football’s top assistant coach.
But most probably felt he’d at least be a finalist.
That’s not the case.
The five finalists came out early Monday afternoon, and Diaz was not one of them.
Broyles Award just announced its 5 finalists, and #PennState defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is not among them. That's a joke.
— Rich Scarcella (@nittanyrich) November 27, 2023
Two other Big Ten assistants, Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker and Michigan offensive coordinator/interim head coach Sherrone Moore, were on the list. Parker and Moore— whose teams will meet in Saturday’s Big Ten title game— are joined by Georgia OC Mike Bobo, LSU OC Mike Denbrock and Oregon OC Will Stein.
Diaz just wrapped up his second regular season at Penn State, and his impact has been immense.
In 2022, he helped Penn State to an 11-2 season which ended with a Rose Bowl win over Utah and a top 10 ranking.
This season, his defense has been as good as any in the country and ranks first in total defense.
Penn State shut out three of its 12 opponents in 2023, two of them coming in Big Ten games. The most recent one was this past Friday against Michigan State, where the team won, 42-0, and held Sparty to 53 yards of total offense. Iowa fared little better, only gaining 76 yards against Diaz and his unit in a 31-0 loss. Penn State also shut out UMass in a 63-0 win.
Diaz was a nationally renowned defensive mind before coming to PSU in Dec. 2021 and before becoming Miami’s head coach more than two years before that. How long he stays at Penn State remains to be seen, but he looks to have a long, bright future in coaching regardless.
