CORAL GABLES, Fla. _ Manny Diaz has, in his three years in Coral Gables, helped transform the Hurricanes defense.
Now it appears Miami's former defensive coordinator will try to do the same _ on a bigger scale _ at Temple.
On Wednesday, both Yahoo and FootballScoop.com reported Diaz was set to take over the Owls program after former Temple coach Geoff Smith took the same job at Georgia Tech.
Attempts to reach Diaz both Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful and UM officials had no comment on the reports. But on Tuesday, Miami athletic director Blake James said via text message that questions about Diaz's future were for Diaz to discuss.
If Diaz does indeed take over at Temple, it will be his first head coaching job after a series of stops at Miami, Mississippi State, Texas, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, NC State and Florida State.
It also leaves the Hurricanes without their top assistant coach just days before the start of the Early Signing Period and two weeks before Miami is set to face Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Diaz, who has made the Hurricanes defense one of the top groups in the nation since joining Mark Richt's staff in 2015, was on the recruiting trail for Miami late Tuesday. But he reportedly interviewed for Temple's job on Monday and emerged as one of the favorites to land the job after Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko opted to return to College Station.
While the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a disappointing 7-5 record and were unable to defend their 2017 ACC Coastal Division title, Diaz's defense was a bright spot.
The unit finished No. 2 in the nation in total defense, allowing opponents an average of just 268.3 yards per game and 4.16 yards per play.
Miami had the nation's top-rated passing defense, holding opponents to a meager 140.8 yards per game and led the nation in opponent third-down conversion percentage, allowing just 41 conversions on 173 attempts.
His players _ and Hurricanes recruits _ have praised his philosophy and aggressive style and in his three years at Miami, Diaz was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach.
He also injected some fun into his time at Miami, helping with the creation and development of the Hurricanes' famed Turnover Chain, which became a viral sensation last season during Miami's 10-0 start to the 2017 season.
"Coach Diaz, guaranteed, is the best D-coordinator I've ever had," Hurricanes cornerback Michael Jackson said last month. "He knows how players think and he knows what they're good at."
