New Miami co-defensive coordinator wants Canes recruits ‘to make the crib great again’

On the eve of the early signing period, the new University of Miami defensive coordinators met the media in their expanded roles and made it clear that they intend to continue what outgoing coordinator Manny Diaz started.

“I’m expecting a lot of players to stick their flag in the ground and say ‘I want to be at Miami because I love Miami, because I want to make the crib great,’’’ safeties coach and new defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda said Tuesday after practice for the Pinstripe Bowl. “’Because I believe in this place. I believe what has been put on the field and built over the last three years defensively is real and tangible and I want to be a part of that.’‘’

Banda, 37, and outside linebackers coach Patke, 32, the other newly named co-defensive coordinator, followed close friend Diaz to Miami from Mississippi State when Diaz was hired by coach Mark Richt in 2016.

On Tuesday, they both praised Diaz, the new head coach of the Temple Owls. Diaz will be in Philadelphia on Wednesday, then will return at night to Miami, he said, to continue coaching the Canes (7-5) for their meeting with the Wisconsin Badgers (7-5) on Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.

And this much is perfectly clear: It will be Diaz who calls the shots during the bowl game.

“This is completely 100 percent what Coach Diaz wants to do and we are 100 percent on his side,’’ Banda said of the Pinstripe Bowl. “Nothing’s changing. I can’t wait to take that sideline in New York with Coach Diaz and run this thing. We’ve been together so long, it’s like riding a bike.

“...For us, this is our opportunity to be together one more time. God willing we’ll get to be together again one more time.’’

Richt said Tuesday that although Banda and Patke are working together, Banda will call the plays after Diaz leaves. Richt also said that the one remaining assistant coaching vacancy will be used for the defense.

“Banda’s going to call the defense but the input is going to be what it always is and that is [that] everybody’s input matters,’’ Richt said. “I’ve got all the faith and confidence in Coach Patke and Coach Banda to be co-coordinators... Knowing Manny took the opportunity to be at Temple we had a decision to make and I didn’t see much broken on the defense, so I didn’t want to sit there and start from scratch.

“Our kids know the terminology, our kids know the values and they know the pillars of success. They know how to tackle the way we want to tackle. There’s so much carryover that was so important in my mind.’’

After Richt announced last Thursday in a written statement that he would conduct a nationwide search for a new coordinator, he nonetheless intiated the promotions the next day after “thinking and praying on what is the best thing to do.

“I thought it was the right thing to do, obviously, or I wouldn’t have done it. The timing was really perfect as it turned out.’’

Said Patke: “It’s a blessing to be named here at this great university. I worked hard for this. Worked under a great man, Coach Diaz, for a long time — five years with him [three at Miami, one at Mississippi State and one at Louisiana Tech] with this great defense and what we ask of our players.

“...It will be a group effort, as it was with Coach Diaz. We all have a voice in our room, which is unique...We will continue on with this defense, and continue to attack, which is perfect for where we live and the athletes that we can recruit down here.’’

Banda acknowledged he could have gone to Temple with Diaz but chose to stay for a challenge to step out of his comfort zone.

“...It was a hard decision because of my faith and understanding of that person. But it was the right reason because I know what’s still here.’’

One of those players still at UM, linebacker Zach McCloud, said Tuesday that he would definitely return for his senior season and seemed confident that his new co-coordinators will do just fine.

“Those are my guys, too,’’ McCloud said of Banda and Patke. “I’ve been working with them as long as I’ve been working with Coach Diaz. They deserve to be in the spot that they’re in right now and I know this will help propel them even further in life.’’

Banda said he knows there are “huge shoes’’ to fill, and he’ll think about that “every single day. But it’s like what Manny Diaz said when he got here. He told all those kids at one of his first meetings that when you put that jersey on at the University of Miami, it’s heavy. It’s not light. It’s not made out of paper.

“There are some great people that sat in those seats and put on those jerseys and put on this emblem as coach. It’s not easy. It’s never going to be easy. But my faith in this staff, my faith in these players and my faith that he’s gotten me to that point is what I’m going to lean on and know with confidence that we can get this done.’’

Diaz has the same confidence in his successors.

“We had an amazing defensive staff, whether it’s Banda, Patke, [Jess] Simpson, [Mike Rumph], even our quality control staff,’’ Diaz said Tuesday morning on WQAM. “Those are super coaches, They believe in the right things. They’re for the kids and they love the style of play that the University of Miami plays. I thought it was a great decision. To see those guys get their chance is a source of pride for me.’’