Bob Diaco

Robert Albert Diaco (born February 19, 1973) is an American football coach and a former linebacker. He is a defensive analyst for the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He played college football at the University of Iowa for coach Hayden Fry from 1992 to 1995. He then served as the head coach of the UConn Huskies (2014–2016).

Bob Diaco
Current position
TitleAnalyst
TeamLSU Tigers
ConferenceSEC
Biographical details
Born (1973-02-19) February 19, 1973
Cedar Grove, New Jersey, U.S.
Playing career
1992–1995Iowa
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1996–1997Iowa (GA)
1999–2000Western Illinois (RB/ST)
2001Eastern Michigan (RB/ST)
2002Eastern Michigan (LB/ST)
2003Eastern Michigan (OLB/ST)
2004Western Michigan (LB/ST)
2005Central Michigan (co-DC/LB)
2006–2008Virginia (LB/ST)
2009Cincinnati (DC/ILB)
2010–2011Notre Dame (DC/ILB)
2012–2013Notre Dame (AHC/DC/LB)
2014–2016UConn
2017Nebraska (DC)
2018Oklahoma (OLB)
2019Louisiana Tech (DC/LB)
2020Purdue (DC/LB)
2022–2023New Jersey Generals (DL)
2023–presentLSU (ST/OLB)
Head coaching record
Overall11–26
Bowls0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Broyles Award (2012)

Diaco was born in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. He attended Cedar Grove High School.[1] After graduation from high school in Cedar Grove in 1992, Diaco enrolled at the University of Iowa and played linebacker for the Hawkeyes, starting for two seasons. As a senior in 1995, he led Iowa to the 1995 Sun Bowl and was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection.

He was previously an assistant at Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Virginia, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana Tech and Purdue.

Playing career

Diaco played college football at the University of Iowa, under head coach Hayden Fry, who described Diaco as "extremely tough, very intelligent".[2] He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection as a linebacker and was named the team's co-MVP in 1995, starting in all 23 games over his junior and senior seasons. Diaco was teammates with Mike Devlin, Scott Slutzker, Danan Hughes, and Mike Wells.

Coaching career

Diaco began his coaching career in 1996 as a graduate assistant at Iowa. From 2001 to 2004, Diaco was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, coaching running backs, linebackers, and special teams. He became the linebackers and special teams coach at Virginia in 2006, coaching under Al Groh.

Cincinnati

Diaco served as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati in 2009 under Brian Kelly. Cincinnati finished the year ranked 44th in NCAA Division I-A in points allowed per game (23.1) and 23rd in sacks (37.0).

Notre Dame

Diaco followed Kelly to Notre Dame in 2010, taking the same position as defensive coordinator.[3] In 2012, Notre Dame finished the year ranked second in points allowed per game (12.8) and appeared in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. Diaco was awarded the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant coach in college football.[4]

Connecticut

In December 2013, Diaco became the head coach at the University of Connecticut, succeeding interim coach T. J. Weist, who replaced Paul Pasqualoni. Diaco was replaced at Notre Dame by Brian VanGorder.[5]

While at Connecticut, Diaco coined the term "Civil Conflict" to describe games between the Connecticut Huskies and the UCF Knights. This one-way declaration of a "rivalry" was first derided and then ignored by UCF.[6][7]

2015

In 2015, Diaco's Huskies beat undefeated Houston 20–17 at Rentschler Field to make the Huskies bowl-eligible for the first time since Edsall left. At this point many UConn fans believed that Diaco was the future of the program after taking a 2–10 team to a bowl game the next year.

2016

After an exciting 2015, the Huskies were projected to be bowl-eligible in 2016, but hope quickly faded after a weak win over FCS Maine, and a botched goal-to-go situation vs. Navy that would have put the Huskies at 2–0. The Huskies traveled to Houston at 2–2, but got blown out. UConn then went on to beat Cincinnati 20–9, but then lost out to finish 3–9.

Connecticut fired Diaco on December 26, 2016, effective January 2, 2017. His buyout, renegotiated after the 2015 season, was $3.4 million. Media reports indicated that Diaco's refusal to consider former Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill for the position of offensive coordinator may have led to his termination.[8] Connecticut hired former head coach Randy Edsall to replace him.[9] Diaco finished his head coaching career at the University of Connecticut having the worst winning percentage amongst Huskies' head coaches since 1920.

Nebraska

In 2017, head coach Mike Riley hired Diaco to serve as the defensive coordinator at Nebraska. He was fired along with Riley and most other assistant coaches on November 25, 2017 after the Cornhuskers finished 4–8.[10]

Oklahoma

Diaco joined the University of Oklahoma as a defensive analyst on March 17, 2018. He was subsequently promoted to outside linebackers coach on October 8, 2018 after defensive coordinator Mike Stoops was fired by head coach Lincoln Riley.[11]

Louisiana Tech

Diaco was named defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech on January 24, 2019.[12]

Purdue

On January 2, 2020, Diaco was named the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Purdue University.[13] Following the 2020 season, Head Coach Jeff Brohm announced that Diaco would not return.[14]

New Jersey Generals

In March of 2022, Diaco was named the defensive line coach for the New Jersey Generals.[15]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
UConn Huskies (American Athletic Conference) (2014–2016)
2014 UConn 2–101–7T–10th
2015 UConn 6–74–4T–3rd (East)L St. Petersburg
2016 UConn 3–91–7T–4th (East)
UConn: 11–266–18
Total:11–26

References
  1. Dunleavy, Ryan. "Bob Diaco, Cedar Grove native, fired by UConn after 3 losing seasons", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 16, 2019. Accessed September 27, 2019. "Cedar Grove native Bob Diaco was fired Monday after three losing seasons as coach at UConn. Diaco, a graduate of Cedar Grove High School in Essex County, went 11-26 overall and 6-18 in the American Athletic Conference."
  2. Diaco was Fry's bell cow at Iowa Archived March 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Kaipust, Rich (January 15, 2017). "Coach who worked with Bob Diaco gives him high marks". Omaha.com. Terry Kroeger.
  4. "Bob Diaco Captures Broyles Award As Nation's Top Assistant Coach". December 4, 2012. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  5. Cooper, Sam (December 28, 2013). "VanGorder to replace Diaco as Irish DC". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  6. Sherman, Rodger (June 1, 2015). "UConn-UCF's new 'Civil Conflict' rivalry trophy is already the country's worst". SBNation.com. Vox Media.
  7. Fuller, Jim (October 22, 2016). "UConn coach Bob Diaco says loss to UCF 'sickening'". The Middletown Press.
  8. Jacobs, Jeff (December 28, 2016). "Jeff Jacobs: UConn AD Benedict Reverses Field, Decides Diaco Has To Go". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016.
  9. Anthony, Mike (December 28, 2016). "Randy Edsall Back at UConn: Coach Says He Should Have Done Things Differently When He Left". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016.
  10. Kaipust, Rich (January 15, 2017). "Coach who worked with Bob Diaco gives him high marks". Omaha.com. Terry Kroeger.
  11. "Riley Announces Defensive Staff Changes". soonersports.com. October 8, 2018.
  12. "Bob Diaco Named LA Tech Defensive Coordinator".
  13. "Purdue hires former UConn head coach Bob Diaco as new defensive coordinator". www.foxsports.com. FOX Media LLC. January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  14. Tom, Dienhart (December 17, 2020). "Diaco out as defensive coordinator". GoldandBlack.com. No. Purdue. Yahoo.com. Rivals.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  15. Samuels, Doug (17 March 2022). "The Scoop - Thursday March 17, 2022". footballscoop.com. Football Scoop. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
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