Manny Diaz is already in demand.

Mississippi State's first-year defensive coordinator was in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday to interview for the same position at the University of Texas, according to multiple reports.

When contacted by the Daily Journal, MSU head coach Dan Mullen cited an athletic department policy of not talking about job openings at other schools.

Diaz's wife, Stephanie, was spotted by Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com at the Texas football offices Tuesday afternoon. She was with Sally Brown, wife of Texas head coach Mack Brown.

Diaz flew out from Bryan Field in Starkville to Austin on Tuesday morning, arriving a little after 10 on a Learjet, according to flight-tracking website Flightaware.com.

An MSU spokesman would neither confirm nor deny that Diaz was in Austin, although he did say Diaz was out of the office. Diaz did not return messages from the Daily Journal.

Diaz, 36, has seen his profile quickly escalate thanks to his work this past season. The Bulldogs made vast improvements on defense and are currently ranked 50th in the country in total defense, 17th in rushing defense, 90th in pass defense and 22nd in scoring defense.

In Saturday's 52-14 Gator Bowl win over Michigan, MSU held quarterback Denard Robinson to a season-low 59 rushing yards, and the Wolverines managed only 342 total yards, 158 yards below their season average.

Texas, which went 5-7 this past year, is trying to replace Will Muschamp, who left last month to become head coach at Florida. The Longhorns ranked sixth in the country in total defense this season.

Before coming to MSU, Diaz was defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State, where his units were among the best in the Sun Belt Conference. Prior to that, he coached at N.C. State and Florida State.

Diaz currently makes $260,000 a year at MSU, but he and the rest of the assistant coaches are getting raises after a 9-4 season and the bowl win. Mullen was recently given a four-year, $10.6 million contract.

Contact Brad Locke at 678-1571 or brad.locke@djournal.com.