Duke University announced Thursday that football coach Manny Diaz has secured a contract extension that will keep him with the Blue Devils through the 2031 season.
In his two years leading the program, Diaz has compiled an 18-9 record and guided Duke to its first outright Atlantic Coast Conference championship since 1962. The Blue Devils captured the ACC title with a 27-20 overtime victory over Virginia in the conference championship game, then closed out the season with a 42-39 win against Arizona State in the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
According to AVG Recruit Ranking, Diaz has secured the program’s most impressive recruiting class in school history for the 2026 season.
Duke officials did not disclose the financial details of the contract extension.
“Manny Diaz is exactly the right leader at exactly the right time for Duke University,” athletic director Nina King said in a statement. “His clear vision for Duke football, deep understanding of our student-athletes and strong alignment with campus and athletics leadership have positioned us for sustained success in the years ahead. We are incredibly proud to have him leading the Blue Devils, and with his passion, integrity and expertise, Duke football will continue to pursue excellence on and off the field well into the future.”
The 52-year-old coach took over the program after Mike Elko departed for Texas A&M following the 2023 season. Under Diaz’s leadership in 2024, the Blue Devils posted a 9-4 record, though they suffered a 52-20 defeat to Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.
A Miami, Florida native, Diaz previously coached his hometown Hurricanes from 2019-21, recording a 21-15 mark. Miami reached three straight bowl games during his tenure, though Diaz was let go before the 2021 Sun Bowl and the team chose not to participate in that contest.
Following his Miami departure, he spent two seasons as Penn State’s defensive coordinator before accepting the Duke position.
During the 2025 season, Duke showcased the aggressive defensive style that has become Diaz’s trademark. The Blue Devils ranked 11th nationally in fumble recoveries with 10, placed 13th in turnover margin at +0.71, finished 14th with 24 turnovers gained, and ranked 16th in tackles for loss per game at 6.6.
