Bob Diaco DC/ILBs Coach

BearGB

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Bob Diaco History:

1996-1997 Iowa (Grad assistant)
1999-2000 Western Illinois (running back/special teams)
2001-2003 Eastern Michigan (linebackers/secondary)
2004 Western Michigan (linebackers/special teams)
2005 Central Michigan (co-defensive coordinaor/linebackers)
2006-2008 Virginia (special teams coordinator/linebackers)
2009 Cincinnati (defensive coordinator)
2010 Notre Dame (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach)

Important Facts:
- Coached under Al Groh at Virginia - the legendary 3-4 "guru."

Diaco's Memorable Quotes about Coming:
- “It bases out of a 3-4. We’ve created a system where we go quickly from three down linemen to four down linemen and we can get that reduced player wherever we need it to be. That’s part of the overall package. One great thing about basing out of a 3-4 is the element that the offense doesn’t know where the fourth rusher will be coming from. A fourth rusher can come from the field. A fourth rusher can come from the boundary. A fourth rusher can come from the inside.”

- “It’s an absolute honor to be here. This is the pinnacle of college football. I was born and raised in Essex County, New Jersey, as an Italian-American from a strong Catholic family. There is a large contingent of Notre Dame fans in my hometown, so growing up I was constantly bombarded with all things Notre Dame. It’s an honor and a blessing to be here. I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else. I’m just so excited about the opportunity.”

- “The biggest factor is Coach Kelly. Coach Kelly is the reason why I left Virginia to go to Cincinnati. Coach Kelly is the best head football coach in the country. But in particular, as it pertains to being a defensive staffer for Coach Kelly, if you are a self-starter and you enjoy work and you enjoy having an opportunity to think outside the box and operate within his shared vision, but at the same time run on your own gas, there’s not a better guy in the country to work for."

- “Coach Kelly is a developmental coach. He, like Coach Fry, has built his resume and success story on taking a young man from whatever level he’s at to way beyond the same way: spiritually, community, academically, physically. He’s a great manager of men and a great energizer of men. He can mobilize a group of coaches or administrators or alumni and just make everyone feel so great about what they are about to do and have everyone buy in 100 percent."

- “My personality as a coach is no different than my personality as a person. I try to be the same guy every day. I’m an early-riser. I’m a bit obsessive compulsive in how I operate and how I keep my stuff, my locker, my office, my car and so on. There’s a lot of respect there. I’m very detailed. I would say I’m very aggressive. I’d also say that based on the treatment I received as a player where I was never berated, dehumanized or demoralized by any of my coaches, I carry that over to my own coaching style and how I teach young men."

- “I’ve been with so many coaches and coordinators that teach their linebackers different ways, there’s a thousand ways to get it done. The fundamentals of teaching begin with running. It’s a running man’s game. You’ll see our linebackers play a little differently than some. There’s not a lot of shuffling and popping the hip or shuffle stack or some of these other words and terms that people are using. It’s more based in running and fits in the system. I would say I’m more in line with how Al Groh teaches linebackers. I’d say that fits more with what I believe to be true about linebacker play from playing it myself.”

- “I love recruiting. I’m passionate about it. Most predominately, I’ve recruited New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Florida. Early in my coaching career I was in Chicago and I know that area well. I’ve also recruited in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia based on where I was coaching at the time. Now, recruiting is recruiting. It doesn’t really matter where you go. If you’re asked the questions, you have the answers. If you say you’re going to get the information to the coach or whomever, you promptly get the information to that individual. If you’re diligent, detailed, consistent and forthright, it won’t matter if you are recruiting in Connecticut or Texas or California. That’s what people are looking for.”

- “Sounds like I’m going to hit the road and go recruiting. I’ll visit some committed players and get on the phone with some targeted prospects.”
 
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BearGB

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This is official as well. Interesting that he gave Diaco ILBs as well. This means Cooks must be OLB coach, because Wisco coach Bielema confirmed Cooks was coming to ND.

I know there will be lots of debate about Diaco in the coming weeks and months. This may be the hire which spells the success or failure of Kelly, at least in the first years. I wish him all the best, and am excited to see what he brings to the table!
 

WabashFalcon

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Better Athletes... better suited to the 3-4 here than in Cincy.

Give Diaco some time before yoru crucify him.
 

neoroks32

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im starting to love this staff everyone is hungery they all want to put their stamp on notre dame and make it a championship contender again
 

irish4ever

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Coach Kelly is the best head football coach in the country.
I like that comment! :)
 

IrishBlood81

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First off I was disappointed in hearing this..hoping we would get some one ...I don't know bigger name? more experience on the higher level. But I'll give him his chance and well its always great to the chemistry that I'm sure will come with a DC that Kelly already knows.


puravida
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NDinL.A.

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First off I was disappointed in hearing this..hoping we would get some one ...I don't know bigger name? more experience on the higher level. But I'll give him his chance and well its always great to the chemistry that I'm sure will come with a DC that Kelly already knows.


puravida
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The last big name DC we got was named Tenuta...that didn't work out so well. Big name, small name, I just hope the dude has sound schemes and can coach his players up...
 
H

HereComeTheIrish

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The last big name DC we got was named Tenuta...that didn't work out so well. Big name, small name, I just hope the dude has sound schemes and can coach his players up...

This man gets it!!! Well said LA.
 

devolg

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The last big name DC we got was named Tenuta...that didn't work out so well. Big name, small name, I just hope the dude has sound schemes and can coach his players up...

yahtzee.jpg
 

mbeckha

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First off I was disappointed in hearing this..hoping we would get some one ...I don't know bigger name? more experience on the higher level. But I'll give him his chance and well its always great to the chemistry that I'm sure will come with a DC that Kelly already knows.


puravida
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I feel ya man, This hire is not gonna impress anyone. No reason to complain about it, not saying you are, but in general. Bad Hire? I would say yes.
 

NDinL.A.

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I feel ya man, This hire is not gonna impress anyone. No reason to complain about it, not saying you are, but in general. Bad Hire? I would say yes.

Explain how it was a bad hire. Was it because he wasn't the big name that you wanted, like say, Tenuta? A coordinator that did less with more than any coordinator we've had in a long time. Did you enjoy all those blitzes that took 20 years to get to the quarterback and that left our poorly coached DB's on islands? Big names mean nothing if their schemes aren't good. Diaco worked for Al Groh, who is a brilliant defensive mind, and Groh gives him his full endorsement. Up and coming coaches need chances to succeed, which you are obviously unwilling to give. Now, it definitely wasn't a 'sexy' hire, and of course there is risk, but Kelly is comfortable with him, he's moved up the coaching ranks and has worked under so damn good defensive coaches. For you to say bad hire is premature to say the least. Risky hire? Yes. But I don't see how you can say bad hire already. Then again, you're pretty negative about everything so it's par for the course.

But hey, what do I know. I'll let his bio talk, and I'll let Kelly defend the hire:

Diaco has 14 years of coaching experience at schools in the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, BIG EAST and Mid-American Conferences. A former all-Big Ten linebacker at Iowa under legendary head coach Hayden Fry, Diaco spent the 2009 season as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati after coaching linebackers for three years at Virginia under Al Groh, one of the top defensive coaches in the country. In his first season with the Bearcats, Diaco’s defense ranked in the top 10 nationally in sacks and tackles for loss and Cincinnati’s rushing defense allowed only 3.6 yards per carry.

“Bob Diaco is a bright and energetic coach who is truly one of the rising stars in this profession and I’m glad he’ll serve as my defensive coordinator. He willingly entered a difficult situation last year when I asked him to join me at Cincinnati and guide a defense that had to replace 10 starters. Bob implemented an entirely new defense and was a major factor in us winning every game during the regular season. He has played for and learned under some fine defensive coaches and will be a great teacher for our guys. Bob will challenge our players and assistants in a positive way on a daily basis and I look forward to the impact he’ll have on our defense,” said Kelly.
 

BGIF

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He wasn't my choice for DC but hard fathom labeling him a "bad hire".

He's never lost a regular season game as the DC.

He's never lost a game when the team had a Head Coach.

Replaced 10 starters while installing a new system.
 

SoJerseyIrish

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Yea seriously....why didn't BK go hire someone like Kirby Smart....I mean LOOK at his resume!!

He was a GA at FSU from 2002-03
DB's at LSU 2004
RB's at Georgia in 2005
Safety at Miami Dolphins 2006
Assistant at Bama 2007
D-Coordinator at Bama 2008

I mean WOW.....that resume right there is just so gosh darn impressive.....tons of experience running a defense....he was a D-coordinator for all of......0 years before Saban gave him the job.....I wish we took a chance on someone like him....(LOL)

Diaco will be just fine......give people a chance, you don't need to have the name Strong, Stoops or Tenuta to coach defense......
 

Aerosmith777

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I'll be honest, I don't love this hire. At Notre Dame, I feel Kelly has the resources to go after a more accomplished coordinator than he did at Cincinnati, and I was hoping he'd take advantage of that. I'm not saying that I think Diaco's definitely going to crap out, and I understand that he replaced 10 starters on defense this year and all that. I just felt that Kelly had a chance to get another d-coordinator from a program like Bama or Nebraska or somewhere like that.

But he obviously believes strongly in this young guy Diaco, so be it. I will root for him all the same. Its not that I don't like Diaco's resume, or that I think he'll definitely be bad. Just thought Kelly could have gotten someone with more of a history.
 

IrishBlood81

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The last big name DC we got was named Tenuta...that didn't work out so well. Big name, small name, I just hope the dude has sound schemes and can coach his players up...


yeah very true. We may all want a big name (like a 'bob stoops/urban meyer' type) but in the end this dude could work out better. Just like Kelly will over a big name as Weis.


I feel ya man, This hire is not gonna impress anyone. No reason to complain about it, not saying you are, but in general. Bad Hire? I would say yes.

I would never say its a bad hire. I just don't know yet. I'm happy that they've worked together before so that will definitely help but in this situation only Time will tell whether it was a good hire or not.

puravida
Dj
 

Gravester

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As long as he can convey to the players, they need to be aggressive, and a bit nasty. Also, no matter who we play, they will remember playing ND for the hits they get from our defense.!!!
 

BGIF

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Yea seriously....why didn't BK go hire someone like Kirby Smart....I mean LOOK at his resume!!

He was a GA at FSU from 2002-03
DB's at LSU 2004
RB's at Georgia in 2005
Safety at Miami Dolphins 2006
Assistant at Bama 2007
D-Coordinator at Bama 2008

I mean WOW.....that resume right there is just so gosh darn impressive.....tons of experience running a defense....he was a D-coordinator for all of......0 years before Saban gave him the job.....I wish we took a chance on someone like him....(LOL)

Diaco will be just fine......give people a chance, you don't need to have the name Strong, Stoops or Tenuta to coach defense......

Sources: Georgia Bulldogs make offer to Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart - ESPN

1/10
By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com


Georgia Bulldogs officials have offered Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart a multiyear contract that would make him the third-highest paid assistant coach in college football, sources told ESPN.com.

Smart, 34, is a former defensive back at Georgia and coached at his alma mater during the 1999 and 2005 seasons. He has been a member of Nick Saban's coaching staffs for all but one season since 2006.
A source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com that Smart hadn't yet made a decision as of Sunday morning. The source said Alabama officials have told Smart they would "do everything necessary to keep him."

Sources told ESPN.com that Georgia has offered Smart a contract worth more than $700,000 annually. It is believed Georgia's offer is at least a three-year contract.
Even if Smart stays at Alabama, he is expected to join the sport's highest-paid assistants, after earning $369,350 last season. Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is the country's highest-paid assistant, earning $1.2 million per season. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who last year was named coach Mack Brown's eventual successor, makes $907,500 annually.
 

BGIF

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Smart Move!

Smart Move!

Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart only signed a term sheet with the University of Georgia and has now backed out of the Defensive Coordinator position at UGA. Smart will now being staying at Alabama
 

BearGB

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"In five seasons under coach Charlie Weis, who was fired in December, Notre Dame was 2-20 when its defense gave up 31 points or more and 33-7 when its defense gave up 29 or less."

We gave up 31 points or more 22 times in 5 seasons. Just awful.

Good find! This would seem to support Kelly's view slightly that a defense which can make some stops might be enough. In Kelly's era here, while our defense will hopefully be ranked higher, I don't think it will ever be towards the very top. This has nothing to do with our scheme or our players - it has everything to do with Time of Possession. Our defense is, most likely, going to be on the field a lot. Therefore, they should, hypothetically, give up some more points than a team whose offense eats up more clock. The important stat here will be the ratio of stops to series for our defense. Hell, if we can stop them 40-50% of the time, we probably have a good shot at winning most games.

Obviously I hope for an elite defense, and I believe we will get there. But in the meantime, we just need a defense that is well-conditioned to stay on the field for a long time, and one that is good enough to make the necessary amount of stops. Look at the stats - even when our D gave up 29 points we still had a good record. I expect Kelly's offenses to put up the same (or better) offensive point totals as Weis', at least when he has worked out some of the kinks. The key here is to just have a reliable defense. Sorry for my rambling...
 

kmoose

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I'll be honest, I don't love this hire. At Notre Dame, I feel Kelly has the resources to go after a more accomplished coordinator than he did at Cincinnati, and I was hoping he'd take advantage of that.

I completely agree with your sentiment. But, when you consider the tandem of Kelly and Diaco, what's more accomplished than 12-0?
 

tko

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I completely agree with your sentiment. But, when you consider the tandem of Kelly and Diaco, what's more accomplished than 12-0?

also consider Kelly cares about continuity. he wanted someone that fit his style and shared his beliefs.
 
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