It was, in nearly every way, the pep rally most new coaches get.
When Manny Diaz was introduced as the 25th coach in Hurricanes history on Wednesday, he posed for pictures with his family and Miami athletic director Blake James. He shook hands with some of the big-money boosters that fuel UM’s athletic department. He answered questions.
But even as Diaz celebrated and was celebrated, the new coach — who served as Miami’s defensive coordinator while the Hurricanes sputtered to a disappointing 7-6 season last year — made it clear he understood he faced some significant challenges in helping turn things around at Miami.