A prominent Penn State defender is in favor of Manny Diaz becoming the team’s next head coach.
As the dust settles on James Franklin’s time coaching Penn State for the past 12 years, candidates continue to emerge as to who might be next to lead the football program in Happy Valley.
Popular names, including Matt Rhule (Nebraska), Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills), and Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri), and a few of the candidates included in many discussions by fans and observers, but what about a more familiar face?
Duke coach Manny Diaz served as the defensive coordinator at Penn State during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
The former Miami head coach joined Penn State’s staff and had instant success, guiding Penn State to a Rose Bowl victory and a trip to the Peach Bowl with arguably a top 10 defense in college football.
Diaz left to become the head man at Duke, where the Blue Devils are 4-2 and 3-0 in ACC competition.
Linebacker Tony Rojas reposted a tweet from Donnie Collins this week that said: “I’m ok with this. Manny is a good, solid football coach. Can recruit. Can motivate. Would be coming from a great academic institution. He checks every box.”
Diaz was a 2022 Broyles Award finalist, awarded to college football’s top assistant coach.
Pittsburgh native and associate head coach Terry Smith was promoted to interim head coach this week and was on Franklin’s staff for the entirety of his tenure. Penn State meets Iowa on the road this Saturday at 7 p.m. on Peacock.
