New Miami football coach Ismael Aristide recruiting prowess drew Manny Diaz attention

The ability of new Miami football assistant coach Ishmael Aristide to recruit South Florida as a defensive analyst for Texas A&M drew the attention of Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz. That was the biggest reason Diaz hired Aristide to coach strikers for the Hurricanes. Aristide was hired by Miami last month.

Aristide is a Miami native, his father Wallace is the principal at legendary Northwestern High School. Aristide’s ability to recruit from his home turf and receive a promotion lured him home. Aristide succeeded in helping the Aggies add talent from Miami. Three Miami prep stars signed with Texas A&M in the last two classes.

The Aggies signed four-star defensive end Donnell Harris in 2020 and 2021 four-star offensive talents Amari Daniels and Yulkeith Brown from Miami. Aristide called being able to recruit for Miami in South Florida a home-field advantage. Diaz upgraded the recruiters he added to the Miami football staff for 2021.

Aristide spoke with reporters on Wednesday for the first time since being hired. The responsibilities he will have as a recruiter and coaching strikers were discussed at length by Aristide. Aristide also discussed being part of a Miami defensive staff almost exclusively made up of Miami residents.

"“You don’t sign a player out of Miami and taking him all the way to Texas without somebody asking questions…especially not one of Donell Harris’ status. He was a top-50 player in the country and one of the top players in the state. I think Manny’s always been aware. Manny’s extremely smart. He’s very well-researched.He’s going to look very, very detailed into what’s going on in his city. If I’m him, I’m thinking, ‘This is my city. Nobody comes into my city.’ He has that mentality and that attitude, which is why I’m happy to work with him. I’m like, ‘Hey, guys, I know like 85 percent of these kids… 85, 90 percent,’When Manny hired me, it’s pretty much a shoe-in because you’re going to recruit Miami every year and you’re going to just fit right in. Whoever our top guys are on that board, I know 85 percent of them. It’s not going to be a lot different for me. Now I’m here and I’m with a bunch of [coaches] that are South Florida guys.It’s home-field advantage now. Before, I didn’t have that and there were things I had to overcome. Now, I’m playing with home-field advantage. I’m excited about that.”Transcript courtesy Sun-Sentinel.Com"

Aristide is one of three new defensive coaches hired by Diaz in the 2021 offseason that are Miami natives and known for their recreuiting prowess. Miami signed the 16th ranked class in 2020 and 12th in 2021. The Miami football program can improve and sign an average of a top 10 class per cycle with the recently hired coaches.

The connections that Aristide already has will help him to be able to transition into recruiting South Florida immediately for Miami. Working with defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and cornerbacks coach DeMarcus Van Dyke provide the Hurricanes with an elite group of recruiters for whom Miami is home.