Manny Diaz Out as Miami Football Coach After Blowout Loss to Middle Tennessee
Diaz departs after four seasons with a 21-15 record at Miami
Mario Cristobal is the frontrunner to replace Diaz
Manny Diaz was fired as head football coach at the University of Miami on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, following the Hurricanes' 45-31 loss to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. Diaz went 21-15 in four seasons at Miami, but the Hurricanes finished with a losing record in each of the past two seasons. Miami finished 7-5 in 2021, but the loss to Middle Tennessee State was the low point of the season.
Diaz was hired at Miami in 2019 after spending three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Temple. He was a popular hire at the time, as he was a former Miami player and had a reputation as a strong defensive coach. However, the Hurricanes struggled on defense under Diaz, and the team never lived up to expectations.
The loss to Middle Tennessee State was the final straw for Miami athletic director Blake James. James met with Diaz on Monday morning and informed him of his decision to fire him. Diaz released a statement thanking the university and the Miami community for their support.
Mario Cristobal is the frontrunner to replace Diaz at Miami. Cristobal is the head coach at Oregon, and he has a strong track record of success. He led Oregon to the Pac-12 championship game in 2020, and he has a 35-13 record in three seasons with the Ducks.
Miami is hoping that Cristobal can turn around the football program and return the Hurricanes to national prominence. Cristobal is a proven winner, and he has the experience and the pedigree to be successful at Miami.
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