Twenty-four hours ago, Mark Richt was still the head coach at Miami and, thus, Manny Diaz was still the head coach at Temple. A day later, neither is no longer the case.
Temple AD Patrick Kraft now has a most unusual coaching search on his hands, one loaded with inherent advantages and disadvantages.
For starters, he's not exactly starting from scratch. Kraft conducted a national search just one month ago, interviewing a number of other Power 5 defensive coordinators in addition to Diaz: Mike Elko (Texas A&M), Don Brown (Michigan), Greg Schiano (Ohio State) and Todd Orlando (Texas). He could re-engage with any of those options should he so choose.
Kraft is also well positioned to broaden the search, with a reported $4 million buyout payment coming his way from Miami.
That said, this is not exactly the same search Kraft conducted the first time around. Temple signed 17 players earlier this month who expected to remain with Diaz. Diaz also hired Fran Brown away from Baylor as assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator and had convinced head strength coach Dave Feeley to remain at Temple. It would be viewed as extremely poor form -- to say the least -- for Temple not to honor those commitments.
Beyond that, the world did not stand still for the 18 days Diaz served as Temple's head coach. Former Owls head coach Geoff Collins plans to bring several key pieces with him from Philadelphia to Georgia Tech, sources tell FootballScoop. Collins staffing plans for Georgia Tech were built with the understanding that Diaz would make some corresponding moves at Temple. In a situation like Collins' coaches usually attempt to ensure their guys all find good homes going forward.
Among the hires Collins was expected to make from his staff at Temple, according to sources, were: offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude, defensive coordinator Andrew Thacker, assistant head coach/defensive line coach/run game coordinator Jim Panagos, offensive line coach Chris Wiesehan and defensive backs coach Nate Burton.
Additionally, sources said director of football operations Scott Wallace will follow Collins south.
Geoff Collins has hired Tashard Choice (running backs), Kerry Dixon (receivers) and Lew Caralla (head strength coach) -- again all with the understanding that Diaz was the guy at Temple.
We had been told Collins was likely to bring some other guys as well but that such moves would be revealed at a later time. Now, with additional uncertainty at Temple, time will tell how any or all of these plans are impacted.
Does Kraft re-engage with any past candidates, does he broaden the search or does he simply elevate Brown -- who reportedly interviewed during the first go round -- to the big chair? Any and all options are on the table at this time.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest coaching job information.