James Franklin publicly addresses Manny Diaz departure

And just like that, the search begins anew. This time last week, the Penn State football program was putting the finishing touches on welcoming new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to Happy Valley. This week, the Nittany Lions say goodbye, as it was announced Thursday that defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was hired as the new head coach of Duke football. And now, for the second time in his tenure, James Franklin must replace both coordinators in a single offseason. But before this second search gets fully underway, Franklin took time to address the departure of Manny Diaz publicly.

James Franklin thanks Manny Diaz for contributions to Penn State football program

Expectations were high when James Franklin hired Manny Diaz to replace Brent Pry before the 2022 season. And over the last two years, Diaz has delivered.

Penn State football has touted one of the most dominant defenses in the entire nation over the last two seasons. The Nittany Lions finished 2023 ranked first in total defense and sacks, and were top 10 in many other areas. So, it was expected when Diaz’s name popped up on the coaching market.

And now, for the second time in three years, the Penn State defensive coordinator is off to lead an ACC program. On Thursday, it was announced that Diaz had agreed to become the next head coach of the Duke football program.

While the outing of Mike Yurcich in mid-November was quite unceremonious, this feels like an opportunity to appreciate everything that the Nittany Lions defense accomplished under Manny Diaz. This sentiment rang true for James Franklin in his public statement released regarding Diaz’s departure on Friday.

“We truly appreciate everything Manny and his family contributed to Penn State the past two seasons,” Franklin said. “Our team and staff have nothing but respect for Manny and the leadership he brought to our program. He was a tremendous teacher, mentor, and friend while in Happy Valley. We wish him and his family all the best at Duke!”

#WeAre pic.twitter.com/prIhDcUUzi

— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) December 8, 2023

What will the search for a new defensive coordinator look like?

While the statement from James Franklin on Manny Diaz was a nice touch, it doesn’t answer the pressing questions about the search for a new defensive coordinator. We haven’t heard from the Penn State football coach on that topic, and likely won’t for about another week.

However, several of the tenants that Franklin spoke about during his search for a new offensive coordinator also likely apply here. Franklin will be searching for a “head coach of the defense.” This is the model he has employed with his defensive coordinators previously, and you can’t argue with the success.

During his search for Andy Kotelnicki, Franklin stressed the importance of finding an experienced candidate with a proven, data-driven track record of success. I’d expect the same thing here. However, an internal hire of someone like Anthony Poindexter, who doesn’t have extensive experience as the primary coordinator, may not be a bad choice.

Finally, in terms of timelines, I’d imagine Franklin would want a hire announced quickly. The stated desire for the offensive coordinator search was for it to be wrapped up before the bowl game, so I’d expect no different this time. A timely hire is even more critical, with Early Signing Day less than two weeks out.

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