SINCE 1996

Manny Diaz

Penn State

Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers

Conference: Big Ten

Coach Stats

Why should this nominee be considered for the Broyles Award?
·       Manny Diaz was hired as Penn State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on Dec. 11, 2021.

·       Diaz, who has 24 years of collegiate coaching experience, including three as a head coach and 13 as a defensive coordinator, joined the Nittany Lions after spending six seasons (2016-21) at the University of Miami, including three seasons as head coach (2019-21), where he coached the Hurricanes to three bowl appearances.

·      Penn State has limited seven opponents to less than 100 rushing yards this season (Purdue, 61; Ohio, 99; Central Michigan, 88; Northwestern, 31; Ohio State, 98; Indiana, 65; Maryland, 60)

·      The Nittany Lions have held four teams to under 50 percent pass completions this season (Ohio, 42.5; Northwestern, 40.5; Minnesota, 40.9; Maryland, 47.8).

·      Penn State had six or more sacks in back-to-back games (6, at Indiana; 7, Maryland) for the first time since 2007 when it had two consecutive games with six or more sacks(7, Florida International, 9/1; 6, Notre Dame, 9/8).

Coach's Past Performance
·      Defenses under Diaz have been a force behind the line of scrimmage. From 2018-20, Miami’s defense featured at least one player with 15 tackles for loss: Jaelan Phillips (15.5) in 2020, Gregory Rousseau (19.5) in 2019 and Jonathan Garvin (18.0) in 2018.

·      During Diaz’s tenure in Miami, the Hurricanes ranked in the top 10 nationally in tackles for loss each year. Miami was No. 9 in 2021 (7.75 per game), No. 4 in 2020 (8.6), No. 4 in 2019 (8.3), No. 1 in 2018 (10.5), No. 4 in 2017 (8.5) and No. 5 in 2016 (8.3).

Team Record and Standings
Penn State is 8-2 and ranked No. 11 in the AP poll
Team/Unit Stats
(300 word limit)Penn State’s Defense National Ranks: Pass Breakups: 1st

Passing Efficiency: 6th

Red Zone: 8th

Tackles For Loss: 14th

Sacks: 16th

Scoring: 16th

3rd Down: 22nd

Takeaways: 25th

Individual Player Stats
S Ji’Ayir Brown

Total Interceptions – 3 (24/6)

Interceptions Per Game – 0.3 (34/7)

LB Curtis Jacobs

Fumbles Recovered – 2 (14/1)

CB Kalen King

Passes Defended Per Game – 1.4 (6/1)