When University of Miami football coach Mark Richt stepped down last month, uncertainty surrounded the program. The school moved quickly to extinguish the doubts and named Manny Diaz its new head coach later that same day.
Diaz, Miami’s defensive coordinator from 2016-18, briefly left the Hurricanes last month to assume the head coach position at Temple. He coached Miami through its loss in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27 and was officially back just four days later.
The hiring quickly gained the approval of many of the program’s past stars, including a trio of former Hurricanes representing the NFL’s best in the Pro Bowl.