Duke is hiring Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz as its subsequent coach, a number of retailers report. Diaz simply wrapped up his second season on coach James Franklin’s employees because the No. 10 Nittany Lions put together to face No. 11 Ole Miss within the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30.
Below Diaz, Penn State’s protection completed the common season atop the FBS, limiting opponents to 223.3 yards on common. The Nittany Lions have been additionally third in scoring protection at a mean of 11.4 factors allowed, solely trailing Huge Ten foes Ohio State and Michigan, which served as Penn State’s solely two defeats in 2023. Diaz’s unit beforehand completed No. 16 in complete protection amongst FBS groups in the course of the 2022 season because the Nittany Lions ended the yr with a Rose Bowl victory towards Utah.
This will probably be Diaz’s second teaching stint within the ACC after guiding Miami from 2019-21. He was 21-15 total with the Hurricanes earlier than being changed by Mario Cristobal. Diaz was beforehand Miami’s defensive coordinator from 2016-18 earlier than incomes the promotion after ex-Hurricanes coach Mark Richt retired.
Diaz will change Mike Elko, who left Duke after two seasons to take the job at Texas A&M, the place Elko was beforehand defensive coordinator. Elko guided the Blue Devils to 9 wins throughout his 2022 debut in Durham, North Carolina, and began this season 5-1 earlier than accidents derailed the season to 7-5.
Duke is about to conclude its 2023 season towards Troy within the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23. Affiliate head coach and operating backs coach Trooper Taylor is serving as interim coach till Elko’s substitute is finalized.
