Diaco hired to coach at Virginia
Co-defensive coordinator Bob Diaco had just helped the football team achieve its best season since 1998.
And now, after one season, Diaco is moving on.
Virginia head coach Al Groh announced Dec. 27 Diaco would be added to his staff to coach the linebackers and special teams next season.
“No one knew Bob when he came to CMU this season,” said CMU head coach Brian Kelly. “He was fired from Eastern and Western Michigan, but did a great job for us. It was a good decision for him and we wish him the best.”
Also leaving the coaching staff are wide receivers coach Joe Danna and graduate assistant Matt LaFleur.
Danna will coach the secondary at Georgia Southern and LaFleur will be the quarterbacks coach at Northern Michigan.
“It just shows that CMU is a great place to work,” Kelly said. “It says a lot about the program.”
The Chippewas went 6-5 this season, much in part because of the slight improvement of their defense. They gave up 394.5 yards of total offense this season, compared to 431.4 last year. Their rush defense, which gave up 113.7 yards per game this season, was the best in the Mid-American Conference.
Still the pass defense struggled, giving up 280.7 yards per game, third worst in the conference.
“I believe the seniors we have returning will keep what coach Diaco started going,” said junior linebacker Thomas Keith. “When you get a coaching change sometimes people think there will be a dropoff, but it takes the players out there to execute everything. We have a lot of leaders returning and will improve.”
Keith especially took the loss of Diaco hard as the two had formed a close bond during the season. Keith, who led CMU in tackles with 104, said he never met a person who brought energy like Diaco did every day.
“I understand it’s a business, but it hurt for me personally,” he said. “I’m going to miss the enthusiasm and passion he brought. The way he brought it as a coach is the same way I play the game.”
Danna, who just finished his fourth season, coached the safeties in 2003 and 2004 and played for the Chippewas from 1995 to 1998.
He was a graduate assistant at Georgia when current Georgia Southern coach Brian VanGorder coached the defense.
His wife also is a Georgia native.
“It is a good situation for him,” Kelly said. “He is a tremendous asset and I’m happy for him.”
Kelly said he does not have a date set for when he will have new coaches in place, but said it will be sometime soon after Feb. 1.
“I want to find the right person that is a right fit for us,” he said. “Our system won’t change and neither will our expectations. Our kids understand I will bring another quality person on board.”
