FSU Rivals: Nole fans happy with Mark Richt’s staff decisions
By Kelvin Hunt
Mark Richt hasn’t wasted any time in looking to replace Manny Diaz who left to become the head coach at Temple.
Mark Richt lost arguably his best coach this week when defensive coordinator Manny Diaz left to become head coach at Temple.
Diaz anchored the Hurricane’s defense the past two seasons leading them to back-to-back top 25 rankings according to S&P advanced metrics (No. 22 and No. 7).
The void left by Diaz created a domino effect on Miami’s 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes as they lost recruit after recruit since the news broke.
It looks like Mark Richt made an effort to stabilize the recruiting class and potentially safe enough money to hire an offensive coordinator.
BREAKING: Looks like the nationwide search is over. #UM has named Ephraim Banda and Jonathan Patke as co-defensive coordinators and promoted defensive line coach Jess Simpson to associate head coach.
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) December 14, 2018
More Insight
...By the way, Duke also has co- defensive coordinators. Banda and Patke were invited to accompany Diaz to Temple and Richt didn't want to lose them and believes they were important coaching parts of an exemplary defense
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) December 14, 2018
Fan Reaction
Miami D coordinators in the press box trying to call plays pic.twitter.com/BeoWdnNo66
— Sosua Slim (@biggamejames36) December 15, 2018
Lmfaooooo https://t.co/fK8sjBVCE3
— Jay B (@TrueOrigiNole) December 14, 2018
Briles gone put up 60 on that shit
— Mike B (@Mickpacino77) December 14, 2018
Thoughts
As you can see some FSU fans seem to fully approve the move made by Mark Richt to go with co-defensive coordinators. Both coaches come off the Manny Diaz tree with Banda being the more experienced of the two.
He was the Miami safeties coach and Patke was their inside linebackers coach. It appears neither of these guys have experience calling a defense during a game at the Division I level.
That’s likely why FSU fans feel good about the hires, not to mention the defenses Diaz fielded were average unless they were forcing multiple turnovers it seemed.
Next. Can FSU Land Any Of The Top Remaining 2019 Recruits?. dark
The move seems to benefit FSU if they can get their offense turned around in 2019 as they can take advantage of an inexperienced duo in their first year.