Rhett Lashlee opens up on his relationship with Manny Diaz ahead of SMU vs. Duke

Rhett Lashlee and Manny Diaz are set to face off in a massive ACC game, with SMU traveling to Duke on Saturday night. There is a relationship between the two head coaches as they have not only faced each other before but also worked together.

One memory Lashlee has, in particular, going up against Diaz involves football and the birth of his twin sons. Diaz was the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State while Lashlee was a graduate assistant at Auburn in 2010, an eventual national championship-winning team. But Auburn was certainly sweating for a while in Starkville.

Not too long later, Lashlee was in the hospital with his wife celebrating the birth of their two kids.

“Manny and I had some version of going up against each other back in 2010,” Lashell said. “I’ll never forget, I was just a GA, he was the DC at Mississippi State. We had Cam Newton, won a national title that year. We play at Mississippi State on a Thursday night Week 2. We beat them 17-14, they stuffed us pretty good but we won. My boys were born the next day, so I really remember that.”

Working together at Miami is where the relationship between Lashlee and Diaz really grew. Especially during the 2020 season when there were restrictions due to COVID-19. How Diaz led the Hurricanes throughout the process is something that has stuck with his then-offensive coordinator.

“When I was leaving here to go be with him at Miami, just him and his wife — they’re a great family,” Lashlee said. “He cares about his players like genuinely. You can tell by the way they play for him, being in that culture. I was with him during the COVID season, which was incredibly difficult… I just appreciate the relationship, I thought we made each other better. I learned a lot from him.”

Saturday will mark the first time the duo has faced off as head coaches. Lashlee is “not surprised” to see Duke doing so well under Diaz’s leadership, currently having a 6-1 record. SMU has the same.

Whoever winds up winning will really set the pace in the ACC Championship game race. But when the head coaches come together to shake hands after the game, there will be plenty of respect thanks to the past.