Duke Head Coach Manny Diaz joins Adam Breneman for an in-depth conversation about his coaching journey, leadership philosophy, and the challenges of building a winning program in today’s college football landscape. From getting fired at Texas in 2013 to leading Miami and coordinating one of the nation’s top defenses at Penn State, Diaz has seen it all. Now, he’s taking on a new challenge at Duke, and he’s determined to make his mark.

In this episode, Diaz shares his approach to building a strong culture, the importance of toughness in his coaching philosophy, and what it takes to recruit and retain top talent in the era of the transfer portal. He also reflects on the pivotal moments in his career, the lessons he learned from James Franklin, and the differences between taking over at Duke versus Miami.

Whether you’re a college football fan, coach, or aspiring leader, this conversation provides valuable insight into the mindset of a Power 4 head coach and what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Don’t miss this inside look at the future of Duke Football and the man leading the charge.

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CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro

1:50 - First team meeting at Duke 

2:40 - First order of business as Duke Head Coach 

4:27 - Pivotal moment in Coach Diaz’s career 

5:35 - Coaching philosophy 

6:25 - Being a production assistant at ESPN 

8:26 - When Coach Diaz knew he wanted to be a head coach 

9:14 - Process of getting job at Duke 

14:09 - Taking over Duke vs. Taking over Miami 

15:07 - Building a staff 

17:07 - What Coach Diaz looks for in young coaches 

18:59 - Lessons from Coach Franklin 

22:10 - Ready to be a head coach again 

23:46 - Building a relationship with players 

26:21 - Building a team to win now vs. building for the future

27:50 - When Coach Diaz knew his team was tough 

29:20 - Managing risk during a game 

30:18 - Spring Practice thoughts 

32:47 - Important stats to Coach Diaz 

34:23 - Play calling as a head coach 

35:34 - Being honest with players 

36:35 - Advice to his younger self 

37:24 - Overcoming adversity 

40:05 - Biggest challenge at Duke 

41:11 - Duke’s culture 

44:33 - What will take Duke to the next level 

45:07 - NIL at Duke 

46:42 - Philosophical changes throughout coaching journey 

48:10 - Coach Diaz’s why 

On Next Up, college football analyst Adam Breneman sits down with the most influential names in college sports and lets them tell their stories unfiltered, direct to the fans.

Next Up is a Front Office Sports Network show featuring candid, open, and honest conversations with the most impactful figures in college sports including head coaches, athletes, athletic directors, commissioners, entrepreneurs, media personalities, agents, and executives shaping the business of college sports.

Adam is a former All-American, Penn State alum and media personality. Front Office Sports is the leading multi-platform media and news organization covering the intersection of sports, business and culture.