Texas Longhorns Head Coach Mack Brown Fires Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz

Ben Kercheval

The debacle in Provo has claimed its first victim.

Less than one day after Texas gave up 550 yards on the ground to BYU in a 40-21 loss, Longhorns defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is out of a job. Head coach Mack Brown announced Sunday in a statement that Diaz had been removed in just his third year on the job.

"Our performance on defense last night was unacceptable, and we need to change that." Brown said. 

Additionally, Texas announced that Greg Robinson, the program's former defensive coordinator and current football analyst for the program, will replace Diaz

"This is a tough deal for everyone involved, but I love the University of Texas, and Coach Brown has been wonderful to me," Robinson said in a separate statement. 

Robinson's last job as a DC came at Michigan in 2009 and '10. The Wolverines ranked 110th in the country in total defense in the latter year. 

The news of Diaz's firing was first reported by Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com, with several outlets later confirming the initial report.

The decision to remove Diaz so quickly—however warranted it may be—goes against how Brown typically handles these types of situations. However, Diaz oversaw a Texas defense that ranked as the worst statistically in the history of the program in 2012. Things didn't look promising Saturday, either. 

When asked Saturday night after the loss to BYU if Diaz would coach in Week 3 against Ole Miss, Brown replied (via the Dallas Morning News), "I haven't even gotten out of the game. I'd like to watch the video."

Diaz came to Texas from Mississippi State following the 2010-11 season. 

Ben Kercheval is the lead writer for Big 12 football. All quotes obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise. You can follow Ben on Twitter @BenKercheval. 

   

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