Why James Franklin’s Penn State Future Could Belong to Manny Diaz
Another White Out, another gut punch. Penn State Football’s double-overtime loss to Oregon last weekend has reignited the same uncomfortable conversation that always bubbles beneath the surface in Happy Valley: Can James Franklin ever get this program over the hump?
After 11 seasons, the evidence is overwhelming.
Franklin’s record against AP top-10 opponents sits at a dismal 4–21. Against top-10 Big Ten teams, he’s 1–18.
The Nittany Lions are perpetually good, but never great, consistent contenders on paper, consistent disappointments in the moments that matter most.
At some point, “close” stops being good enough. And the question becomes less about what Franklin has done for Penn State and more about what he can’t do.
Could Penn State Football Fire James Franklin, Hire Manny Diaz?
Manny Diaz: The Familiar Face With the Right Fit
Meanwhile, 400 miles south, Manny Diaz is quietly building a résumé that should command Penn State’s attention.
Hired as Duke’s head coach after two highly successful seasons as Franklin’s defensive coordinator, Diaz has already shown that he can lead a program, recruit effectively, and build a culture of accountability.
When Diaz ran Penn State’s defense, the unit was elite. Aggressive. Fast. Creative. His 2023 group ranked near the top nationally in sacks and third-down defense. His fiery presence on the sideline made him a fan favorite, and players consistently praised his ability to connect.
At Duke, he’s proving that wasn’t a flash in the pan. The Blue Devils, historically an afterthought in ACC football, have become one of the nation’s toughest outs under Diaz. He’s demonstrated adaptability, game-day poise, and the kind of emotional leadership Franklin has so often been accused of lacking.
Manny Diaz’s Big-Program Experience
Unlike many rising stars, Diaz has already been through the fire at a major program.
At Miami, he served as defensive coordinator (2016–18) before being elevated to head coach in 2019. His defenses there were ferocious. In 2017, Miami led the nation in tackles for loss (10.5 per game) and finished No. 3 in sacks (3.4 per game). The Hurricanes’ “Turnover Chain” became a cultural phenomenon, and Diaz’s aggressive style made Miami nationally feared on defense again.
Though his stint as head coach was uneven, he gained invaluable experience managing the pressure, scrutiny, and recruiting demands of a top-tier program. That matters — because Penn State isn’t a stepping-stone job. It’s a destination, and Diaz has already lived in that fishbowl.
Diaz’s Defensive Brilliance at Penn State
When Franklin hired Diaz in 2022, Penn State’s defense immediately took a leap forward. His 2023 unit was statistically one of the best in the nation:
- No. 1 in total defense (223.3 yards per game)
- No. 1 in sacks (49)
- No. 2 in passing defense (153.6 yards per game)
- Top 5 nationally in third-down defense
Penn State’s defense carried the program into the Playoff, while the offense repeatedly stalled in big games. Diaz left after the season to take the Duke job, but his fingerprints on that defense remain a reminder of what he can do.
Duke and the Syracuse Statement
Now in his second season at Duke, Diaz is 12-6 and proving he’s more than a coordinator. Two weeks ago, Syracuse shocked Clemson at Death Valley. Last weekend, Diaz’s Blue Devils went into the Carrier Dome and dismantled that same Orange team, 38–3.
That’s not just winning, that’s imposing your will. It’s culture, toughness, and execution on the road. Traits that Penn State’s offense and leadership often lack when the lights are brightest.
Why the Timing Makes Sense
Penn State is at a crossroads. The expanded College Football Playoff changes the calculus now, simply being “really good” almost guarantees a bid.
But if the goal is more than making the field and if the standard is competing for national championships, then Penn State has to ask whether Franklin is the man to take them there.
The numbers say no.
A decade of data shows Franklin can recruit top-10 classes, develop NFL talent, and beat the Indianas and Marylands of the world. But in the spotlight? Against Ohio State, Michigan, or playoff-caliber opponents? The results are the same, year after year.
Diaz, on the other hand, represents both continuity and change.
He knows the culture in Happy Valley.
He’s proven he can elevate a defense to elite status.
And at Duke, he’s proving he can run the entire show.
Hiring him back would allow Penn State to maintain its recruiting momentum while injecting a new energy, one built on aggression, adaptability, and a willingness to break from Franklin’s stale blueprint.
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The Risks and the Reality
Moving on from Franklin wouldn’t be cheap.
Franklin’s contract is massive. But, at some point, stability becomes stagnation.
And Diaz won’t be available forever. If he continues to succeed at Duke, bigger jobs will come calling. By waiting too long, Penn State risks missing the chance to reunite with the coach who might already be the best long-term fit for the job.
A Defining Decision
Franklin deserves credit for what he’s done: he’s kept Penn State nationally relevant, built modern recruiting pipelines, and stacked 10-win seasons.
But, college football isn’t about being relevant, it’s about breaking through, and if Franklin hasn’t done it by now, what makes anyone believe he ever will?,
Penn State may not want to admit it, but the prudent move may be to part ways with Franklin at season’s end and bring Manny Diaz back. Because if Happy Valley truly wants to stop almost being elite, it might require handing the keys to someone who can finally close the gap.
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It was at PRISM where Staszak produced live games and began his career as an on-air reporter.
After a couple of brief stints with CBS-3, WB-17 and WGAL-8 in Lancaster, PA, Staszak began a 12 year stretch at FOX 29 where he became the lead sportscaster in 2007. It was there that Staszak found himself in the middle of Philadelphia Phillies World Series Championship coverage that earned him an Emmy nomination for best sports reporter in 2008.It was one of five Emmy nominations that Staszak earned over the course of his career.
All told Staszak covered three World Series, two Stanley Cup Finals, an NBA Finals and one Super Bowl during his television run.
Staszak left the TV business for 97.5 The Fanatic in 2013, where he enjoyed eight years bloviating his beliefs on how a professional football team should be run.In 2018 when he fortunate enough to be the first sports talk host in the city, along with cohort Zach Gelb, to provide post-game coverage of the first Super Bowl Championship for the city’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Staszak was also a writer for 97.5 The Fanatic along with 4 Philly Sports and now covers Penn State athletics for NittanyCentral.com.
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