Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Bob Diaco has received the highest honor a college football offensive or defensive coordinator can receive. Diaco was named the recipient of the 2012 Broyles Award on Tuesday at a ceremony in Little Rock, Ark. He is the first Notre Dame assistant to ever win the award.
Diaco was one of five finalists for the award. The others were Georgia Defensive Coordinator Mike Bobo, Texas A&M Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Florida Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn, and Stanford Defensive Coordinator Derek Mason
The Broyles Award has honored the top assistant college football coaches in America since 1996 (an award was presented for several years prior to it being renamed at that time). It is named for legendary former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles. Each year the five Broyles finalists are chosen from nearly 1,500 assistant coaches who represent 117 FBS college football programs. Each head coach can nominate one assistant coach from his staff.
Diaco’s 2012 defense has helped the Irish to a 12-0 record, a No. 1 BCS ranking and a spot in the Jan. 7 BCS Championship Game against No. 2 Alabama. The Irish rank No. 1 in scoring defense (10.3 ppg), No. 4 in rushing defense (92.4 ypg), No. 12 in pass efficiency defense (105.4), and No. 6 in total defense (286.8 ypg) this season.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o was also named the Nagurski Award winner (top defensive player) and Butkus Award winter (top linebacker) in the nation on Monday. The Diaco pupil is also a Heisman Trophy finalist. If he wins he would become just the second defensive player to ever take home the Heisman.
Diaco was reported to be a finalist for Boston College's head coaching vacancy, but on the same day Diaco received the Broyles Award in Arkansas BC announced the hiring of former Notre Dame assistant Steve Addazio as their new head coach to replace Frank Spaziani.
Past Coordinator of the Year winner who have gone on to become head coaches have won 15% of all Super Bowls and five college football national championships. Notable past winners include Joe Gibbs, Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, and Jackie Sherrill.
The current members of the Broyles Award Selection Committee are: Frank Broyles, Vince Dooley, Don James, Dick MacPherson, Grant Teaff, LaVell Edwards, Hayden Fry, Barry Switzer, Johnny Majors, and Bobby Bowden.
