Fresh off an ACC title, Manny Diaz is climbing coaching wish lists as elite programs eye the defensive mastermind who transformed the Duke Blue Devils into a legitimate powerhouse.
Week 0 started off with a bang last week, and that means some college football fan bases have already started beating the drum for head coaching change... in August.
Looking at you North Carolina State.
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN named Duke head coach Manny Diaz as one coach who's on a short list of popular names to take a new job before the 2027 season.
An "industry source" told Rittenberg that Diaz is a "hot name" this year after he led the Blue Devils to an ACC championship win last year.
"The rise of Manny Diaz," the source told Rittenberg. "Fired by Miami and now he's a hot name at Duke. Look, you can win at Duke, you can win at a lot of places."
Diaz went 21-15 at Miami before taking the Duke job in 2024 after Mike Elko turned his success with the program into an opportunity at Texas A&M. Diaz went 18-9 in his first two seasons with the Blue Devils. He signed a new contract extension in April.
Rittenberg thinks Diaz has proven doubters that he can succeed at a larger program in a new opportunity.
"Diaz has taken the right steps to boost his profile," Rittenberg wrote. "He oversaw a highly successful Penn State defense for two years, and has delivered consecutive nine-win seasons at Duke, which surprisingly won the ACC title last season.
"Duke has increased its commitment to football, and Diaz, 52, is a great fit there. But he also should have higher-profile opportunities, especially with a diverse background as an assistant."
Losing Diaz would be a harsh blow for Duke, who lost quarterback Darian Mensah to ACC rival Miami in the transfer portal this offseason. Frankly, it's hard for the Blue Devils to keep talent around.
One couldn't blame Diaz if he wanted to take a more prestigious job. It just doesn't seem like Duke has the resources to give its head coach what he needs to consistently compete for the ACC championship and College Football Playoff.
With that being said, Duke could take a step back this season without Mensah, which might make Diaz less popular when the market heats up in late October and November.
