MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 27: Joe Jackson #99 and Scott Patchan #19 of the Miami Hurricanes sack Chazz Surratt #12 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second quarter during the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Hard Rock Stadium on September 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

In three seasons as the Miami Hurricanes, Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz has built arguably the best defense in the country. That should make him a hot commodity when Head Coaching positions open in the next month.

Diaz is in his 13th season and fifth school as a Defensive Coordinator. He first job as a Defensive Coordinator was at Middle Tennessee State in 2006. Diaz has also worked at Mississippi State twice, Texas and Louisiana Tech. He has the Miami Hurricanes defense positioned as one of the best in the country.

Miami is second in total defense, 12th in rushing defense, second in pass defense, first in tackles for loss, sixth in sacks and seventh in turnovers forced. They are marking themselves as one of the greatest defenses in Miami Hurricanes history. The inconsistencies on offense this season will likely hinder their ranking in UM history.

Diaz was named as the only Assistant Coach in the country as one of the hot names to watch when Head Coaching positions open about a month from now. The Miami defense has been dominant for a season and a half and Diaz has essentially been made the “Head Coach” of the defense under Mark Richt.

Miami’s defense was the biggest reason that the Hurricanes started the 2017 season 10-0. In their two ACC wins this season the Miami defense has played a major role in defeating North Carolina and Florida State.

The Hurricanes scored three defensive touchdowns in a 47-10 victory over North Carolina. Florida State had only 40 yards of total offense in the second half in a 28-27 Miami victory. Sports Illustrated acknowledges the elite level that Diaz has his defense playing at.

“The defense carried the Hurricanes to 10 wins last season, and it’s still playing at a championship level even though the offense has been flailing. Miami ranks second in the country behind Michigan in yards per play allowed (3.8)… Diaz has always had the smarts and the organizational skills to be a head coach, but that period at Texas (as Defensive Coordinator from 2011-13) knocked him off the path. A smart AD will notice what Diaz has done since.”

It’s going to be tough if not nearly impossible for Miami to keep Diaz as the Defensive Coordinator. They could promise to make him the Head Coach in waiting when Richt retires. How long would that be though? At age 58 Richt could coach ten more seasons.

The Head Coach in waiting has rarely worked in College Football. Will Muschamp was named the HCIW at Texas but never took over the Longhorns when he was hired at Florida before Mack Brown retired. It seemed to be a more prevalent way of doing things in the early 2010s.

Diaz is going to be highly sought after as a Head Coach as long as the Miami Hurricanes defense continues to play at an elite level. His unit has clearly been better than Richt’s for at least the last season and a half. Losing Diaz would be a big blow to Richt’s staff. It would be tough to continue the dominance we have seen on defense.