Blue Devil Country

Duke Football: Scenes From Manny Diaz's First Day on the Job

New Duke football leader Manny Diaz looks to be "around the right people."

Matt Giles

Duke football head coach Manny Diaz (Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports)
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Manny Diaz became the 23rd Duke football head coach in history on Thursday evening, 10 days after Mike Elko unceremoniously departed for Texas A&M in the middle of the night.

And on Friday morning — daylight hours — the 49-year-old Diaz arrived in Durham:

Here's the program's brief footage of Diaz, who spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Penn State following three years at Miami in his first stint as a head coach (21-15 overall, 16-9 ACC), taking in the scenes upon his arrival on campus alongside director of athletics Nina King:

His first-day duties included an appearance on ACC Network's ACC PM:

"The locker room here, with all the crazy things going on and all the change and chaos in the sport, it's got to be about the people," Diaz explained about his expectations with the Blue Devils, "because the other stuff is too much of a headache. And if you're not around the right people, it's not worth it...

"I met with the team today. I probably had about 15 one-on-one meetings with the players, and I intend to do that with the rest of the team. There are outstanding people here in this locker room.

"And that really is what you're drawn to. You're drawn to the relationships because that's what you got into this profession for, and no matter what changes on the outside in the sport, that's still the core principle."

Late in the evening following his first shift on the job, the program released this 30-second hype video recapping the day.

On Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET, Duke football will officially introduce Manny Diaz via an open-to-the-public press conference in Pascal Field House (adjacent to Wallace Wade Stadium). It will air live on ACC Network and ACC Network Extra.

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Presumably, fans in Cameron Indoor Stadium will get another chance to welcome him to the university during the Duke basketball team's home game against Charlotte on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. (The CW).

The gridiron Blue Devils (7-5, 4-4 ACC), who enjoyed two winning campaigns in as many seasons under Mike Elko's command, face Troy (11-2, 8-1 Sun Belt) at the Birmingham Bowl in Alabama on Dec. 23.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke football news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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