He is the defensive line coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
[2] 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.
[3] 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.
Cincinnati finished the year ranked 44th in NCAA Division I-A in points allowed per game (23.1) and 23rd in sacks (37.0).
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.
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.
In 2017, head coach Mike Riley hired Diaco to serve as the defensive coordinator at Nebraska.
[17] On August 2, 2023, defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey stepped away from the program due to a personal health matter.
[18] On March 3, 2025, Diaco was named as the defensive line coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels.