Duke, coming off ACC title, extends Manny Diaz through 2032 season

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It took some wonky conference tiebreakers, but Duke football won its first outright ACC championship since 1962 last season. The Blue Devils rewarded the man that led them there with an extension on Thursday.

The school announced that it’s extended head coach Manny Diaz through the 2032 season.

“Manny Diaz is exactly the right leader at exactly the right time for Duke University," Duke AD 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."

Diaz, who went 21-15 in three seasons at Miami from 2019-21, has posted an 18-9 record as the Blue Devils' head coach since taking over ahead of the 2024 season.

Diaz, now 52, was hired in December 2023 after Mike Elko left for the Texas A&M job. At the time, Diaz was coming off a successful two-season run as Penn State’s defensive coordinator.

Since, he’s filled Elko’s big shoes in Durham by guiding the Blue Devils to back-to-back nine-win seasons, the latest of which was capped with a thrilling, 42-39 Sun Bowl victory over Arizona State on New Year’s Eve. Earlier that month, Duke denied an upstart Virginia squad a trip to the College Football Playoff with a 27-20 overtime win in the ACC title game.

Despite five losses — three of which came in non-conference competition — and no ranking next to their name, the Blue Devils found themselves playing that game in Charlotte because they won a five-way tie for second place in the league table behind UVA, thanks to the conference winning percentage of their opponents.

But since Duke wasn’t one of the five highest-ranked conference champions, the then-8-5 Blue Devils weren’t included in the 12-team CFP field. Miami controversially snuck in, giving the ACC some much-needed representaition as an at-large team, and finished as national runner-up.

Ironically, Miami, Diaz’s former program, plucked standout Duke quarterback Darian Mensah out of the transfer portal this offseason.

Mensah reached a settlement with Duke over an NIL contract dispute that enabled him to enter the portal and play for another school in 2026. Soon after, Mensah committed to Miami.

The Hurricanes and Blue Devils will face each other next season, Diaz’s third leading Duke.

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