Purdue fires defensive coordinator Bob Diaco after one season

[Kolumbo]

I feel bad for the guy. One half season at Purdue and he is gone. Maybe losing to Nebraska was the final straw but it seems harsh.

 

[huskymedic]

I feel bad for the guy. One half season at Purdue and he is gone. Maybe losing to Nebraska was the final straw but it seems harsh.

They lost their last four games...From the Coaching Carousel thread back in mid-December:

Diaco out as defensive coordinator

Despite owning an impressive resume, Diaco wasn't the answer to what ailed the Purdue defense

purdue.rivals.com

 

[Tdaley]

It will be interesting to see how many offers the Cincinnati's DC gets to move up to a P5 school.

 

[Watchdog]

It kind of is, but when Disco interviewed here, and he was hot off of a Broyles Award and gave every indication of being a rising star. Everyone who hired him after the Nebraska fiasco should’ve known better but I give Warde a pass.

Regarding WM, in retrospect he was ill equipped to lead a major university's athletic department during conference realignment. He was a "safe hire" for Susie, and then emulated her decision-making when he hired Diaco.

We needed an AD with the savvy of Lew Perkins or John Toner, someone who could see potential and hire coaches who could successfully lead programs, and who could see where college athletics was going and figure out how to get us there, but instead got a guy who feared making a mistake. WM is probably like most AD's but we didn't need most, we needed better.

John Toner's hiring of GA and JC, and Lew Perkins' hiring of RE were great hires but none were really "safe" in the context of award winning and/or high profile, even JC. Three hires that didn't really engender great excitement at the time but put UConn athletics on the trajectory that brought the fans so much pleasure and raised UConn's profile nationally in academics as well as sports.

When I think of WM his legacy is "easy"or "out to lunch" decisions:
1. Asleep at the switch, not sure what to do, outfoxed, however you want to characterize losing out to Louisville going to the ACC and Rutgers to the B1G;
2. Extending Diaco's contract and huge buyout based on a 6-7 year; and
3. The buyout provisions of KO's extension.

WM is now facing a decision about extending Harbaugh's contract. Will he take the safest route and extend the contract, or buy out his last year? If he buys him out will he look for a UM alum with a pro background and little if any experience as a head coach, like Juwann Howard, or go after a proven winner at a lesser known program? Should be interesting.

 

[Woof 101]

Warde truly is at his dream job. A top 10 AD position at his alma mater. Sometimes people need new motivations to stay at the top once they reach their goals. And by sometimes I mean every successful person. They know they need to create new challenges to avoid complacency.

Yes! Warde should create new challenges and avoid complacency. Michigan has had their mascot image and that hideous block M for years!

 

[gtcam]

Susie and Warde were a train wreck and it will take UConn years to fully recover, unfortunately
I am no fan of the current AD but he is light years more equipped for an AD position than Warde or Hathaway

 

[Buffett10]

No one should feel bad for him. He was a terrible HC and an even worse evaluator of talent. Schools should learn not to hire him after all his disasters.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

I don't think his employers have been clear with him, and it has cost him dearly. The programs want guys who are focused on becoming great football players. He has dedicated his energy to finding guys who want to win breakfast. This has caused confusion and put him and his employers at odds.

I do imagine this is tough on his family, but no tougher than being a Military Brat. At least his children will inherit a lot of money. Screw Bobby Redpants.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Bob’s issue isn’t ability. His issue is personality.

 

[uconndogs]

Bob’s issue isn’t ability. His issue is personality.

I never met the man, but I’ve seen a bit of his work. I think his ability is in question too.

 

[Uconnalliance]

Does that make 5 payouts goin at once? Gotta be a world record

 

[huskymedic]

Does that make 5 payouts goin at once? Gotta be a world record

Nah... UConn was paid in full in 2017.

 

[Palatine]

All that crazy is fine when you win. When things are not going well, it makes everyone associated with him look foolish.

 

[Waquoit]

Bob’s issue isn’t ability. His issue is personality.

We saw that ability on full display at the Navy game.

 

[Bongo Fury]

I never met the man, but I’ve seen a bit of his work. I think his ability is in question too.

From what I could tell from the stands he was interested in coaching LBs.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Bob’s issue isn’t ability. His issue is personality.

People will put up with a lot of "personality" when you are winning. Act like kook and lose? You just get shown the exit door with less pomp and circumstance.

 

[Vowelguy]

I feel sorry for him now. He can’t hold a job and it’s gotta be tough on him and his family.

He cant hold a job because he keeps taking jobs beyond his ability. (And fools keep giving it to him.) If he were more realistic in his abilities he could achieve some stability for himself and his family. Take a D2 or D3 job.

 

[JohnFSilver]

I never met the man, but I’ve seen a bit of his work. I think his ability is in question too.

The guy knows football and is meticulous. His issue is he is unflexible.

 

[Chin Diesel]

The guy knows football and is meticulous. His issue is he is unflexible.

Then he doesn't know football. A large part of knowing how to coach football and coach a game is knowing how to be flexible.

You're picking one helluva hill to die on.

 

[Waquoit]

He cant hold a job because he keeps taking jobs beyond his ability.

He was Assistant Coach of the Year.

 

[Waquoit]

The guy knows football and is meticulous. His issue is he is unflexible.

Hey John, I always thought he lost some thing when his consigliere retired while he was here. Any truth in that in you think?

 

[Vowelguy]

He was Assistant Coach of the Year.

Yeah and I was employee of the month once.

His last 4 jobs have lasted 1 year. If he lowered his expectations he might have some success again.
And the original comment was about feeling sorry for his family. The instability is entirely a choice he is making. He doesnt need the $.

 

[ucjoet]

I personally think he was way ahead of his time. He mentioned AAC games being played on Nickolodean years ago. I am sure Roger Goodell heard what Diaco said, and stored it in his memory bank. Now with new NFL TV negotiations, what do you know. The NFL on Nickolodean.

With this idea, his great coaching strategy in Annapolis( plus all other games) and the Civil Conflict, he will go down as a football legend.

Bob Diaco, the gift that keeps on giving

 

[JohnFSilver]

Hey John, I always thought he lost some thing when his consigliere retired while he was here. Any truth in that in you think?

Nah. Bob didn’t listen to anyone. He is also a control freak. Also, his defense isn’t aggressive, and he won’t change.

 

[Waquoit]

Yeah and I was employee of the month once.

I was EOY once and I deserved it. You didn't deserve yours?