About this episode
Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are joined by Duke head coach Manny Diaz! From detailing his aggressive portal strategy to landing quarterback Darian Mensah, to navigating a tough schedule and fueling the storied UNC rivalry, Diaz lays out his blueprint for building a winning culture. He speaks candidly about the trait he sees in championship teams, the rising support for Duke football, and even offers advice to his former colleagues at ESPN. 0:00 - Manny Diaz on Duke's competitive advantage 3:35 - Manny Diaz talks portal strategy and QB Darian Mensah 13:35 - Duke's demanding schedule 19:56 - The trait that leads to wins 24:12 - Manny Diaz on the support for Duke football 28:01 - The Duke-North Carolina rivalry 32:26 - Manny Diaz shares some advice to those at ESPN 37:53 - Duke's potential pathway to the CFP 40:37 - 16-team CFP coming in 2026? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices