Canes Warning
Fansided

Miami Football coach Manny Diaz deserves more respect among Power 5 coaches

By Alan Rubenstein

CORAL GABLES, FL - JANUARY 02: Manny Diaz of the Miami Hurricanes addresses the media during his introductory press conference in the Mann Auditorium at the Schwartz Center on January 2, 2019 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, FL - JANUARY 02: Manny Diaz of the Miami Hurricanes addresses the media during his introductory press conference in the Mann Auditorium at the Schwartz Center on January 2, 2019 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

Where to rank coaches in new jobs, first time head coaches and coaches leading a Power Five school for the first time can be even trickier. Is being a head coach more important than experience in a power five program? Diaz has eight years of experience as a full-time assistant at Power Five programs.

Fornelli clearly put more importance on a coach’s experience running a program than having been an assistant with a power five school. Both have their strengths and challenges. The players at Power Five schools are a different breed. Many have their eyes on the NFL. Players at Group of five schools are likely to play in the NFL.

The game resources and pressure at a Power Five schools are also much greater. How the coaches new or mostly new to the Power Five are able to adjust will unquestionable determine their fate. Diaz’s unknown as a head coach specifically contributed to Fornelli’s low ranking for him.

"57 MIAMI (FLA.) Manny Diaz: This is one of those times where I disagree with my fellow voters. Diaz has never been a head coach, so for me, I can’t rank him higher than coaches who have won games. I had him at 64 on my ballot, so if he’s at 57, at least one of my fellow voters thinks very highly of him. 2018 rank: n/a"

Colorado’s Mel Tucker is the only first-time head coach ranked lower than Diaz. Maryland’s Mike Locksley is the only other head coach in a new position that is ranked lower than Diaz. Locksley has a 3-31 record in his previous stints as a head coach at Maryland and New Mexico. He is back in College Park.

Home/Miami Hurricanes Football