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Five Schools that Could Hire Manny Diaz as Head Coach

By Alan Rubenstein

Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive coordinator Manny Diaz huddles up with the defense during a timeout in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the 2015 Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. The Bulldogs defeated the Wolfpack 51-28. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive coordinator Manny Diaz huddles up with the defense during a timeout in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the 2015 Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. The Bulldogs defeated the Wolfpack 51-28. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Brian Lankford-Johnson (37) runs with the ball against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Brian Lankford-Johnson (37) runs with the ball against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Purdue

The Boilermakers have not had a winning season since 2011 and not been to a Bowl game since 2012. Darrell Hazell was 9-33 in three plus seasons in West Lafayette. Hazell was hired after an 11-3 season at Kent State in 2012.

The advantage that Diaz might have over Fleck is that Purdue might not want to hire another MAC coach. Hazell was an offensive assistant for 25 years before getting the job at Kent State. He was 47 when he got the job with the Golden Flashes. Diaz is 42, Fleck is 36.

Purdue was 3-3 at the time of Hazell’s firing, before losing six straight. They also started 2015 3-3 before losing their final six games.

The Boilermakers have been bad on both sides of the ball in 2016. They rank 97th nationally in points per game at 24.6 and are 118th in points allowed at 38.2.

Quarterback David Blough returns. He had 25 touchdown passes, but also 21 interceptions. Blough threw for 3352 yards, for an average of over 279 yards per game. Six Boilermaker receivers finished with at least 29 receptions.

There is hope defensively. Redshirt Freshman Markus Bailey led the Boilermakers with 97 tackles and four interceptions. Junior Defensive End Gelen Robinson led Purdue with 9.5 tackles for loss and had five sacks, plus a 78 yard interception return for a touchdown. He is the son of former Purdue basketball great Glenn Robinson.

The Boilermakers return five starters on defense and eight on offense.

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