Penn State coach James Franklin weighs in on Manny Diaz leaving for Duke
Penn State coach James Franklin put out a statement on Friday morning that signaled his appreciation for Manny Diaz hours after the now former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator was announced as the new head coach at Duke. It’s Diaz’s second head coaching job. His first came at Miami. After three seasons, he was fired there. He then gave the Lions two fantastic seasons as their defensive coordinator. Now, he’s going back to the ACC and a leading role.
“We truly appreciate everything Manny and his family contributed to Penn State the past two seasons,” Franklin said. “Our team and staff have nothing but respect for Manny and the leadership he brought to our program. He was a tremendous teacher, mentor and friend while in Happy Valley. We wish him and his family all the best at Duke!”
Duke welcomes Manny Diaz
Diaz will have his first Blue Devils’ news conference on Saturday. A time for that is not yet out, however. But his time at Penn State is officially over.
“As our process unfolded, it became abundantly clear that Manny Diaz is the right fit for Duke University. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Manny, Stephanie, and their family into the Duke community,” Duke athletic director Nina King said in a statement.
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“Manny’s previous experiences have prepared him for this opportunity. And, he is, quite simply, an outstanding football coach who will capitalize on the positive momentum of this program. An elite communicator and collaborator, Manny possesses the dynamic ability to cultivate impactful relationships with internal and external constituents surrounding a successful football program. As Duke’s head football coach, I am confident that Manny will lead the young men in our program to reach and surpass their aspirations of achievement both on and off the field.”
Said Diaz in the same news release:
“We are grateful and humbled for this opportunity and could not be more excited to be the head football coach at Duke University. I’d like to give a special thanks to Dr. Price and Nina for their trust in me and our family as well as a true commitment to this program. Duke University is an elite institution in every facet, and we are excited to be a part of it. I’m beyond excited to get to work.”
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