| Manny Diaz |
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Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
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· The Manny Diaz File
Manny Diaz, the former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Mississippi State and Middle Tennessee, joined the Texas coaching staff in the same position in January 2011.
During his first season at Texas, Diaz led the top defense in the Big 12 as the Longhorns ranked first in the conference in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense. Overall the unit ranked 11th nationally in total defense and was sixth against the run despite facing six offenses that ranked in the top 15 nationally. The defense shut out Kansas, holding the Jayhawks to 46 yards which is the second fewest allowed in school history. All 12 opponents were held to below their average total yards with eight managing more than 100 yards below the average and two over 200 yards less. Two senior linebackers led the defensive effort under the guidance of Diaz. Emmanuel Acho was a first team All-Big 12 selection and Keenan Robinson was a Butkus Award semifinalist. The two linebackers combined for 237 tackles, 29 TFL, four sacks 31 pressures and three forced fumbles.
In 2010 with the Bulldogs, Diaz guided a defense that ranked 22nd in the nation in scoring defense (19.9 ppg), 17th in rushing defense (214.9 ypg) and 17th in tackles for loss (7.0 pg). That was a dramatic turnaround for MSU from the season prior to his arrival. In 2009, the defense finished 71st in scoring defense, 62nd in rushing defense and 89th in TFL. Mississippi State also finished ranked 13th in red zone defense (.73) and 22nd in turnovers forced (28) nationally in 2010.
The 2010 defense held seven opponents to 20 points or fewer, which includes only 17 points to Auburn, which had the nation's fourth-ranked scoring offense, and 14 points in the Gator Bowl to a Michigan offense that entered the game averaging 34.3 ppg. Under Diaz, LB Chris White earned first-team All-SEC honors and was named Nagurski National Player of the Week following a game against Florida where the Bulldogs held the Gators to just seven points in Gainesville.
Mississippi State's nine wins in 2010 were the most for the school since a 10-2 record in 1999 and marked just the second winning season for the program since 2001. The Bulldogs finished ranked No. 15/17, its highest final ranking since finishing No. 13/12 in 1999. That is the only time MSU has ranked higher than 18th in the final polls since 1981.
Prior to Mississippi State, Diaz spent four seasons as defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee. Diaz also coached linebackers for two years after mentoring the safeties during his first two seasons in Murfreesboro.
In four years under Diaz, the Middle Tennessee defense led its conference in sacks and tackles for loss twice, and finished no lower than third in the league in either category during his tenure. In 2009, the Blue Raiders finished second nationally in tackles for loss, stopping more than eight and a half plays per game behind the line of scrimmage. Diaz's defense also ranked sixth nationally in sacks that season, posting nearly three per game.
Also in 2009, Diaz tutored defensive end Chris McCoy who was tabbed the Sun Belt Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year. McCoy led the league and ranked sixth nationally in tackles for loss. Safety Jeremy Kellum and cornerbacks Alex Suber and Marcus Udell were also named first team all-SBC. Defensive end Jamari Lattimore along with linebackers Cam Robinson and Danny Carmichael earned second-team honors. Overall, Diaz's unit produced 17 all-conference players during his time there and put up three of the top four fewest yards allowed averages at Middle Tennessee in its FBS era.
Before joining Middle Tennessee, Diaz played a major role for one of the country's top-ranked defenses by coaching safeties in 2004 and 2005 and handling the linebackers in 2002 and 2003 for North Carolina State.
In 2005, the Wolfpack finished eighth nationally in total defense, sixth in third-down percentage, and 12th in scoring defense en route to a 7-5 record and a shutout win over South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. He also served as special teams coordinator and his kickoff return unit finished fifth nationally, while his punt return team blocked four kicks.
In his first year as safeties coach and special teams coordinator in 2004, N.C. State's defense finished the year as the top-ranked unit in the country in total defense by allowing just over 220 yards per game. The Wolfpack defense also held national powers Ohio State and Florida State to under 130 yards of total offense during the season. Diaz, who coached All-ACC performer and former New York Jet Andre Maddox, also had his punt return team block three kicks and take two returns for touchdowns.
Diaz handled the linebackers for N.C. State in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, the Wolfpack won the Tangerine Bowl and finished 7-5 with Diaz sharing play-calling duties for all 11 games. He also made all the defensive calls during the bowl win over Kansas.
In his first year as a full-time coach, Diaz helped the Wolfpack to one of their best seasons ever, finishing 11-3 and defeating Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. He shared in the play-calling duties, and N.C. State ended the year ranked 14th nationally in total defense and 10th in scoring defense. In back-to-back games against Florida State and Notre Dame, N.C. State did not allow an offensive touchdown.
Diaz spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons at NCSU as a graduate assistant working primarily with the linebackers. During that time, the Wolfpack went to two bowl games and became the first ACC team to beat FSU in Tallahassee.
Diaz, whose father recently concluded his second term as mayor of the City of Miami, began his coaching career at Florida State in 1998, working alongside defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews for two seasons. During his stint, the Seminoles won a National Championship in 1999 and were runners-up in 1998.
He worked at ESPN from 1995 to 1997 after earning his B.S. in communications from FSU, and in high school, he was a Miami Herald Honorable Mention All-Dade County Scholar-Athlete for football, basketball and baseball in 1991.
The Miami native is married to the former Stephanie Cerow and they have three sons, Colin, Gavin, and Manny.
THE MANNY DIAZ FILE
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High school: Miami Country Day School (Miami, Fla.)
College: Florida State '95
Years in coaching: 15
Wife: Stephanie
Children: Colin, Gavin, Manny
COACHING ASSIGNMENTS
2011- : Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Texas
2010: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Mississippi State
2008-09: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Middle Tennessee
2006-07: Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, Middle Tennessee
2004-05: Safeties/Special Teams, N.C. State
2002-03: Linebackers, N.C. State
2000-01: Graduate Assistant, N.C. State
1998-99: Graduate Assistant, Florida State
COLLEGE BOWL EXPERIENCE
2011: Holiday Bowl, Texas
2011: Gator Bowl, Mississippi State
2009: New Orleans Bowl, Middle Tennessee
2006: Motor City Bowl, Middle Tennessee
2005: Meineke Car Care Bowl, N.C. State
2003: Tangerine Bowl, N.C. State
2003: Gator Bowl, N.C. State
2001: Tangerine Bowl, N.C. State
2000: MicronPC.com Bowl, N.C. State
2000: Sugar Bowl, Florida State (National Champions)
1999: Fiesta Bowl, Florida State
