Our guest speaker for this meeting will be Manny Diaz, Head Football Coach at Duke University. Diaz was named Head Coach in December, 2023, and led Duke to 9 wins in his first season, including wins over UNC, NC State, and Wake Forest, and an invitation to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Known for his aggressive and attacking defensive style, Duke finished 2nd nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.9), second in fumbles recovered (18), fourth in sacks per game (3.3) and seventh in turnovers gained (27). Diaz also led 15 Blue Devils to All-ACC honors, the most in one season in program history.
Diaz’ coaching career began as a Graduate Assistant at Florida State, which won a National Championship team in 1999 while he was there. In 2000, Diaz went to NC State, serving as linebackers coach, special teams coach, and more. Following stints at Middle Tennessee State University and Mississippi State University, Diaz landed at the University of Texas in 2011 as Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach. In 2016, he left to go back to his hometown of Miami, taking the Defensive Coordinator job at the University of Miami before being promoted to Head Coach in 2019, where he led the Hurricanes to three consecutive Bowl games. After Miami, Diaz went to Penn State, again as Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach. In 2023, he left Penn State for the opportunity of Head Coach at Duke.
Diaz was born in Miami, where his passion for the football developed at a young age. He attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School, where he excelled academically and played football. Following high school, Diaz pursued higher education at Florida State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1995.
Diaz and his wife, Stephanie, are the parents of three sons: Colin, Gavin, and Manny.
Mark Your Calendar
3/19/25 – Dave Odom, College Basketball Guru
4/2/25 – Mike Archer, Former Head Football Coach, LSU
4/16/25 – Special Guest Speaker