Former UConn coach Bob Diaco hired as Nebraska's defensive coordinator

Bob Diaco was fired after three seasons at UConn. (Getty)

Bob Diaco has a new gig two weeks after being fired by Connecticut.

Nebraska announced Saturday morning that Diaco would be the team’s new defensive coordinator. Diaco was officially fired at the beginning of 2017 by UConn after three years with the school.

“When we began looking for a new defensive coordinator, Bob Diaco quickly rose to the top of the list,” Nebraska coach Mike Riley said in a statement. “He has coordinated a top-level defense, has proven himself as a great teacher and recruiter, and we are excited to have him join our football program. Bob is an energetic coach and is ready to get started immediately, beginning with hitting the recruiting trail to find future Blackshirts.”

Most importantly, Diaco can help Nebraska figure out who its biggest rival is in the Big Ten and give the meetings a cheesy nickname like the Civil ConFLiCT. The Huskers, who had famous rivalries with Oklahoma, Colorado and Missouri in the Big 12, haven’t gotten the same rivalry traction in the Big Ten since moving to the conference in 2011. We have faith that Diaco could come up with something better than “The Nebrowa game” for the Huskers’ matchup with Iowa (Diaco’s alma mater).

Before he was hired at UConn, Diaco was Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator for four seasons. He won the Broyles Award in 2012 — given to the nation’s best assistant coach — as the Irish made the BCS Championship Game.

In three seasons with the Huskies, Diaco compiled an 11-26 record and went to one bowl game. During his tenure with the Huskies, it was blatantly obvious Diaco was a defensive coach. UConn’s offense has been one of the worst in the country recently.

Diaco replaces Mark Banker, who was fired earlier this week. Banker had been a longtime assistant of Riley’s and came with Riley from Oregon State before the 2015 season.

Nebraska’s defense allowed 364 yards a game in 2016 and over 5.5 yards per play. And while it was a top-50 defense in the country, there were a few embarrassing moments. The Huskers lost to Ohio State 62-3 and closed out the season with a 40-10 loss to Iowa and a 38-34 loss to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl.