Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1439730
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2 2 1 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M aggressive and very multiple. When we spoke about what he envisioned go- ing forward, I think that's why it made sense." Even with those factors seemingly leading him to Penn State, Diaz still had a big career decision to make. After his unceremonious exit at Miami, no one could have blamed the 47-year-old if he took a year away from the sport, or if he decided that he was going to limit his job search to head coaching oppor- tunities. So why was Penn State's defensive coordinator position the right career move right now? There's a long and a short answer to that question. The short answer is that he respects Penn State's rich defensive history, par- ticularly its Linebacker U tradition, and he wanted to be part of it. He under- stands what it means to play defense in blue and white and admires those who have held the Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator position in the past. "I didn't know where I was going to go," Diaz said. "I wanted to be organic and see what the best opportunity was and make sure it was a place where I was around great people, likeminded people, who were doing the right things, and that we could win. "And, if it was going to be at the de- fensive coordinator level, that we had THE DIAZ FILE Year at Penn State: First Hometown: Miami, Fla. Educa on: Florida State, 1995 — B.A. Communica ons Family: Wife: Stephanie; sons: Colin, Gavin, Manny COACHING CAREER YEARS SCHOOL TITLE 2022- Penn State Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2019-21 Miami (Fla.) Head coach 2016-18 Miami Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2015 Mississippi State Defensive coordinator 2014 Louisiana Tech Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2011-13 Texas Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2010 Mississippi State Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2008-09 Middle Tennessee Defensive coordinator/linebackers 2006-07 Middle Tennessee Defensive coordinator/safe es 2004-05 NC State Safe es/special teams 2002-03 NC State Linebackers 2000-01 NC State Graduate assistant 1998-99 Florida State Graduate assistant