Manny Diaz Out as Defensive Coordinator After Loss to BYU

By Tim Taliaferro in Blog, Special on September 8, 2013 at 3:42 pm | 1 Comment

Texas’ embattled defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has been demoted, the University confirmed Sunday, a day after No. 15 Texas lost to unranked BYU 40-21 with one of the worst defensive performances in school history.

Texas gave up 550 yards of rushing to BYU, the most a Longhorns defense has ever given up by almost 100 yards.

“Our performance on defense last night was unacceptable, and we need to change that,” Head Coach Mack Brown said. Diaz will be reassigned within the Athletics department. Where? Who knows.

Brown has turned to an old friend and former co-defensive coordinator Greg Robinson as Diaz’ replacement. Robinson has been in town working with the Horns as a personnel analyst. He obviously didn’t like what he saw in Provo Saturday night from the guy whose job he has now taken over.

Robinson was Texas’ co-defensive coordinator with Duane Akina for the 2004 season, the year the Longhorns won their first BCS Bowl and Rose Bowl Championship over Michigan. That season, Texas held its opponents to 320.1 yards (23rd NCAA) and 17.9 points per game (18th NCAA), while ranking 16th in rushing defense (107.4 ypg).

Robinson takes over for Diaz effective immediately. The Horns, now 1 and 1 on the season, take on Ole Miss at home next Saturday.

Tags: greg robinson, mack brown, Manny Diaz, texas byu, texas defense, texas football