Mississippi State’s heralded new co-defensive coordinator is coming to Vicksburg.

Manny Diaz will visit the Vicksburg Convention to speak to the Vicksburg chapter of the Mississippi State Alumni Association on Wednesday.

The event begins with a social at 6 p.m. followed by a barbecue dinner and the main program at 6:30.

Diaz was hired in January to replace Carl Torbrush, along with Carl Wilson. Diaz coaches linebackers in addition to sharing coordinator duties with Wilson, who works with the defensive line.

Diaz, 36, is widely recognized as one of the bright young stars in the coaching world. In his last stop, four years at Middle Tennessee State, the Blue Raiders led the spread offense-dominated Sun Belt Conference in sacks and tackles for loss twice.

In 2009, the Blue Raiders finished second in the nation in stops for loss and sixth in quarterback sacks, with nearly three a game.

“Manny has proven to be a bright defensive mind and will bring an aggressive and exciting style of coaching to our defense,” MSU head coach Dan Mullen said in a team release in January.

The Florida State graduate spent five years at North Carolina State from 2000 until 2005, where he alternately coached safeties, linebackers and special teams.

Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased in advance at the UPS Store on Pemberton Boulevard, or by contacting Tom Kendall, chapter president, at 601-631-3206 or TKendall@trustmark.com. Children age 8 and under are free.