Manny Diaz Dives Into How Duke Handles Accountability

During his weekly press conference, Manny Diaz revealed how his team is focused on accountability heading into game against North Carolina.

Nov 8, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz on the field for warm up before the start of the game against the UConn Huskies at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Over the last few weeks, the Duke Blue Devils have had their blemishes exposed too often during games, which has led to the team losing two straight games during that span.

Overall, there have been too many instances of inconsistency in situational moments, and those few plays have been the difference in winning or losing for the Blue Devils.

While speaking with the media during his press conference availability, head coach Manny Diaz talked about the team's accountability heading into the last two weeks of the regular season.

Diaz's Thoughts

Sep 20, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz interacts with safety Ma'khi Jones (26) during the first quarter against the NC State Wolfpack at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

• "Yesterday (Sunday) was an important day in the program to have the maturity and accountability to own our performance on Saturday," Diaz said. "But also, the focus and the fortitude to put it behind us and focus on a really important week for the program. I thought the guys did a really nice job of that and were able to move on, had a good practice last night, and all of our attention goes forward onto getting a win on the road this week down in Chapel Hill."

Sep 18, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; A Duke Blue Devils helmet sits on an equipment box during the fourth quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn Images | William Howard-Imagn Images

Following the loss that the Blue Devils experienced in Week 12, there can be finger-pointing and blaming others for specific reasons. However, Diaz believes that the players need to look within themselves before blaming their fellow teammates.

Duke Blue Devils head coach Manny Diaz high-fives players Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, during the NCAA football game against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

• "Personal accountability," Diaz said when answering about what goes in to owning a loss. "The easy thing to do is look for someone other than yourself to say if only that guy would have done his job a little bit better, then I would have benefitted. Anybody who has a hand in the game, has a hand in the loss. We have good players, we are good team, but we are not as good as we can be yet."

• "When people get their feelings hurt, the disappointment of a loss, we tend to go within instead of looking [externally] being a better teammate, doing what the team needs, Diaz continued. "That's what accountability means."

Nov 15, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Cavaliers running back J'Mari Taylor (3) runs the ball past the Duke Blue Devils defense for a touchdown during the third quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

The execution on the field indicates that the players are the first to blame, but Diaz understands that coaching is paramount in every in-game situation.

• "The coaches are always accountable first," Diaz said. "Consistency after a win or a loss [is important]. It's way more fun to win, but when you come in the next day, there is still a lot of stuff to fix. That's our job as coaches, We are the 'fix-it' guys. We are responsible for everything that occurs out on the field."

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