Manny Diaz ranked in the top 5 coaches on the hot seat

The pressure is on Manny Diaz and his staff following a 6-7 2019 season. The Hurricanes second-year coach was recently named the fifth-ranked coach on the hot seat by The College Football News.

Following a 6-7 2019 season, Manny Diaz and his staff face a year with expectations for the Miami football team to perform much better or face the possibility of being replaced. The 2019 season featured two losses to Group of Five opponents and a second straight season of finish below expectations.

The 30-24 loss to crosstown rival Florida International and 14-0 Independence Bowl loss to Louisiana Tech were regarded as program low points by many. In his postgame press conference in the loss to FIU, Manny Diaz called the loss one of the darkest days in program history. The loss to FIU was the first of three straight to end 2019.

Diaz realized the immediacy to win in 2019 for the Miami football program. The 2020 offseason resulted in major changes for the Miami coaching staff and roster. After the offense was subpar for most of the 2019 season, Diaz fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos after just one season. Offensive line coach Butch Barry was also dismissed.

Diaz hired up-tempo, spread offensive guru Rhett Lashee from SMU to replace Enos. Lashlee hired Garin Justice to replace Barry. Rob Likens is the new wide receivers coach after Taylor Stubblefield left Miami after one season to take the same job at Penn State. Lashlee, Justice and Likens all have experience as offensive coordinators.

The College Football News ranked all 65 Power Five coaches according to who is on the hot seat. Manny Diaz is ranked fifth. Diaz has some good company on the list. Chip Kelly who coached Oregon to a national championship game appearance in 2010, but has struggled at UCLA is third. Clay Helton of USC is first.

"5. Manny Diaz, MiamiRecord With Team: 6-7 – Miami fans are already a fickle lot as they expect greatness – and are right to do so – but losing to FIU, losing to a bad Duke team, and getting shutout by a Group of Five Louisiana Tech team in a lower-tier bowl on the way to a losing season is never going to be okay in Coral Gables."

The point by CFN about Miami fans being fickle is largely accurate. The expectations have remained the same since the early 2000s while college football has evolved. The point about a losing season and Independence Bowl loss not being acceptable in Coral Gables is fair. Miami football needs to perform better.

Diaz went to the transfer portal for the second straight offseason to upgrade the talent on the Miami football roster. The 2020 trip into the portal was more about quality over quantity. Quarterback D’Eriq King from Houston, defensive end Quincy Roche from Temple and kicker Jose Borregales from FIU join Miami in 2020.

Those three plus DE Jaelan Phillips gaining eligibility after sitting out the 2019 season following his transfer from UCLA all improve the talent on the Miami football roster. Diaz has to hope Lashlee’s new offense can spark the Hurricanes and that the defense will continue to perform at a high level. That should lead to a winning 2020.