Hurricanes shake up defensive coaching staff for 2021

Updated Jan. 14, 2021 4:47 p.m. ET

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Manny Diaz decided someone else needed to call Miami’s defensive plays. He chose himself.

The Hurricanes’ head coach — and former defensive coordinator — will call the plays on that side of the football in 2021, he said Thursday, while announcing a slew of other changes including the return of Jess Simpson to coach defensive line. Simpson had that role at Miami in 2018 before leaving for the Atlanta Falcons; after two NFL seasons, he returns to Coral Gables.

Blake Baker will remain as defensive coordinator, though Diaz will assume the bigger role for games.

“Blake will continue to run our defense and I will call the defensive plays on game days, which we feel is our best path to maximizing our strengths on that side of the ball,” Diaz said.

Diaz also has promoted former Miami standout and NFL veteran DeMarcus Van Dyke to cornerbacks coach. He was on Diaz’s staff the last two years as the Hurricanes’ assistant director of recruiting.

The Hurricanes were 67th in total defense and 51st in scoring defense out of 127 teams at the FBS level nationally this past season.

“We are excited to announce these staff hires as we work to improve all facets of our program on and off the field,” Diaz said. “Jess is a proven defensive line coach at all levels who had great success with our defensive line in 2018 and we are thrilled to have him back at UM. DeMarcus is eager to take the next step in his coaching career and work in tandem with Travaris with our defensive backs.”

Baker will also coach inside linebackers and Jonathan Patke returns as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach to complete Miami’s defensive staff. Former assistant head coach and defensive line coach Todd Stroud will now become Miami’s senior football advisor and former cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph is going to the Hurricanes’ recruiting department.

The Hurricanes (8-3) finished this season ranked No. 22 and are scheduled to open next season against reigning national champion Alabama.

“We can’t wait to hit the ground running with our offseason program,” Diaz said.

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