Rare is the day when a Miami politician's child gets a big job through ways other than blatant and shady nepotism.
Manny Diaz Jr., son of the former mayor of Miami, is apparently the leading candidate to become the Texas Longhorn's defensive coordinator. According to some sports blogs, he's already been offered and accepted the gig, but we'll have to wait to confirm that. Update: Done deal.
That of course refutes the much earlier reports by the Uncle Luke News Network that former Miami coach Randy Shannon was a lock for the position.
Oh, and by the way, someone is thinking of giving Mark Whipple a head coaching job.
According to The Austin American-Statesman, Diaz was in Texas yesterday interviewing for the position. Diaz is a graduate of FSU and was only in his first year at Mississippi State University as defensive coordinator but has emerged as a star assistant coach. You may also remember that when Dan Mullen's name was in the mix to possibly replace Randy Shannon, it was stated that he'd probably bring Diaz along to coach at the school where his father, former mayor Manny Diaz, earned his law degree.
That means that despite initial strong speculation, Randy Shannon is not headed to Austin.
With rumors of job offers at University of Minnesota and Texas now just confirmed as rumors, where does Shannon go? Surely some school has room for guy respected for his strong connection to players and recruiting skills on their staff.
Apparently, there's some small contingent of UConn fans who want Shannon. Then again, there's some small contingent of UConn fans who want FIU coach Mario Christobal. There's also a large contingent of guys named Mark Whipple who want to see Mark Whipple at UConn.
Surprisingly, only Mark Whipple is on the reported list of six candidates that UConn's athletic director is considering.
Of course, UConn somehow made a BSC game this year but were promptly ditched by their head coach Randy Edsall who decided to take his "dream job" at ACC middlings Maryland. (No problem with dreaming small, I suppose.)
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