ESPN report: Barring losing 2020 Manny Diaz will return to Miami football in 2021

In a report about which head coaches are on the hot seat nationally for 2020 Adam Rittenberg of ESPN reports that Manny Diaz will likely return to the Miami football program in 2021 with the minimum of a winning season in 2020.

The inaugural season of the Manny Diaz era was a disappointing one with the first losing season in five years for the Miami football program. ESPN National college football writer Adam Rittenberg asserted in his preview of which coaches are on the hot seat for 2020 that Diaz will return for 2021 with a winning season in 2020.

Despite some assertations by fans to the contrary, the Miami football team did not get blown out in 2019. With better performance from the Miami kickers early in the season and some key stops late in games, the season could have turned out very differently. In spite of the 6-7 record, the Hurricanes showed some growth in 2019.

Not getting blown out should absolutely not be the standard at Miami. Moral victories should not be the bar at a program with five National Championships and a plethora of top-five national finishes. Following the 33-17 loss to LSU In the 2018 season opener and 35-3 Pinstripe Bowl defeat being more competitive was key in 2019.

Diaz, for the most part, was able to accomplish that in 2019. The 14-0 loss to a far better than more fans realizes Louisiana Tech team in the Independence Bowl was the Hurricanes only loss that was not a one-score game. The Bulldogs scored their second touchdown with just over a minute left in the game.

Miami needs a far better season than 7-6 in 2020 baring unforeseen circumstances or an epidemic of injuries like the Miami basketball team has had the last two years. More than anything Miami has to continue to be the defense they have been during the Diaz era an offense needs to show growth.

Sometimes an outside perspective is needed. Rittenberg has covered the Big 10, is now a national writer for ESPN covering college football and has a podcast on the Mothership. His take on what Diaz and the Miami football team need to accomplish for Diaz to return in 2021 comes from an eye of expertise.

"“Miami absolutely does not want to get rid of Diaz after just two seasons. Lack of stability undoubtedly has led to the program’s 15-year malaise. But emotions run high around Miami’s program, especially with a vocal contingent of former players.Diaz is a Miami guy through and through, but the team’s struggles down the stretch and on offense for much of the season are alarming. Barring a losing season, though, Diaz should be back for Year 3.”"

Unlike his predecessors Al Golden and Mark Richt, Diaz was willing to make changes when it was obvious that the system former offensive coordinator Dan Enos was running did not work on almost every level. New OC Rhett Lashlee comes to Miami with a far more modern offense that was dominant for SMU in 2019.

Lashlee has a proven track record that includes being the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Auburn from 2013-16. The offense should improve in 2020 and Miami has a more advantageous schedule this coming season than in 2019. The success of a college football head coach is far more than his team’s record.