Bob Diaco, a 40-year-old rising star in the college coaching scene, has been hired as UConn's new football coach a source confirmed to the Register.

He will be introduced at a 3:30 p.m. press conference on Thursday.

Diaco comes to UConn following a successful run as the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame.

CBS is reporting that Diaco agreed to a $5 year contract to coach the Huskies.

A source told the Register that Diaco is "very personable, a great recruiter and a great coach."

New Haven native Pat Narducci was reportedly offered the job Wednesday morning but turned it down.
This will be the first head coaching job for Diaco was the defensive coordinator for rival Cincinnati in 2009 before heading to Notre Dame. Diaco was named the winner of the Frank Broyles Award in 2012 as the top assistant coach in the country. Ironically, Narduzzi won that award this season.

Diaco, 40, has coached primarily in the Midwest but the native of Cedar Grove, N.J. did have a successful stint at Virginia from 2006-08 before spending one season as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator. He followed Brian Kelly to Notre Dame to be the defensive coordinator.

"UConn is getting a great man for the job," former Notre Dame and Northwest Catholic lineman Mike Golic Jr. posted on Twitter this evening.

Diaco was the 2012 winner of the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach. Ironically, Narduzzi was the winner of that award this year.

UConn is known to have interviewed Ball State head coach Pete Lembo and current interim head coach T.J. Weist, who has served in that role since Paul Pasqualoni was fired following an 0-4 start. There have been reports Towson head coach Rob Ambrose, a former UConn offensive coordinator, has also been interviewed for the position.