Penn State defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] is officially in the running for the nation’s top assistant coaching award, the Broyles Award. The Broyles Award released its list of 52 nominees for this year’s award, with Diaz one of seven Big Ten assistants up for the award. Every Big Ten assistant up for the Broyles Award is a defensive coordinator.
Diaz has had a solid season in his first year at Penn State. The Nittany Lions are among the best in the nation in recording tackles for a loss and Penn State is coming off a shutout of Maryland that limited Taulia Tagovailoa to fewer than 80 passing yards.
Diaz joined the Penn State coaching staff shortly after he was removed as head coach at Miami. Diaz filled the vacancy created when longtime [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] assistant [autotag]Brent Pry[/autotag] left his position as defensive coordinator to become the head coach at Virginia Tech.
Penn State has never had a Broyles Award winner, so Diaz is looking to become the first to claim the award. The Broyles Award has a stellar history of seeing its winners go on to become head coaches as well, which is something many expect could be a possibility rather quickly for Diaz. Some notable previous winner of the Broyles Award inlcude Lincoln Riley, Kirby Smart, Steve Sarkisian, Mike Locksley, and, Pat Narduzzi.
Last year’s Broyles Award winner was Michigan offensive coordinator [autotag]Josh Gattis[/autotag], a former assistant under Franklin.
The Broyles Award will cut its list of 51 nominees down for a semifinalist cut on Nov. 22, and finalists will be announced a week later on Nov. 29. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
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