Florida and Miami football programs likely to run similarly in future

Manny Diaz spent two seasons during two separate stints as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State under Dan Mullen. Diaz expects the Florida and Miami football programs

New Miami football coach Manny Diaz was initially hired by Florida head coach Dan Mullen to be his defensive coordinator at Mississippi State in 2010 from Middle Tennessee State. Diaz lasted one season in Starkville before leaving to take the same position at Texas. He returned to Mississippi State for the 2015 season.

Diaz and Mullen’s two seasons together were a positive experience for the Hurricanes head coach. He mentioned that they have a similar way of looking at football and how their programs should be run. The year before Diaz arrived in Starkville, the Bulldogs allowed 26.8 points per game to rank 71st nationally in scoring defense.

Under Diaz, Mississippi State improved to 19.8 points per game 21st nationally. Diaz left for Texas the following season. He lasted just over a year in Austin before being fired two games into the 2013 season. Diaz spent one season at Louisiana Tech before returning to Starkville for the 2015 season.

The Bulldogs allowed 23.2 PPG and finished 36th in Diaz’s return to Starkvegas. Diaz was called home following the 2015 season to become the defensive coordinator under Mark Richt in 2016. The led to Diaz eventually being hired in Coral Gables. Expect Diaz to incorporate a lot of what Mullen does into his culture as a head coach.

Diaz spoke how his approach as a head coach is similar to Mullen.

"“We have worked together twice, and two of those years Mississippi State had two of their best years in history there. We view the game similarly. He is a very creative guy and an outside-the-box type of thinker. I try to be the same way defensively and I think that is why we got along well together."

Hired a year apart at two of the big three college football programs in Florida, Diaz and Mullen’s tenures are likely to be linked. Their meeting in Orlando to open the 2019 season will go a long way towards how they are judged during their tenures as their prodigal sons in their head coaching positions.

The winner of Saturday’s game will set the momentum for the season and their tenure of the winning coach. The Florida and Miami football programs will play again in 2024 and 25. If Diaz is still around for the 2024 game he will be Miami’s longest-tenured coach since Larry Coker from 2001-06.

If Diaz is coaching Miami for the 2025 game that will make him the Hurricanes longest-serving coach since Charlie Tate from 1963-70. Mullen was 69-46 in nine seasons at Mississippi State before going 10-3 in his first season at Florida last year. Mullen echoed Diaz’s thoughts about the similarities in how they run their programs.

"“I bet there’s going to be a lot of crossover as to how he runs the program, and I think a lot of it is just how we view the game…How we view the development of the game. How we view game planning…How are we putting players in the best position to be successful? Are we developing young men on and off the field? Are we maximizing their ability to become the best that they can be and using the game of football to do it?I imagine that’s kind of how we view things. We were together and we talked a lot about that, about the game and about just the program as a whole of what it is, more than just always just the scheme.”"

Mullen’s 10-3 inaugural season coaching Florida brought a lot of excitement back to Gainesville a year after the Gators went 4-7. Miami took a big hit in momentum a year after a 10-3 season and appearances in the ACC Championship game and Orange Bowl. A blowout by either team would be a huge step back in what had been positive offseasons.