Winona State Warriors

Follow Rocco DiMeco on Twitter: @Rocco_DiMeco

Rocco DiMeco joined the Warrior staff prior to the 2018 season and works as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. DiMeco spent the previous four years at Rutgers University as special teams quality control.

In his time at Winona State, DiMeco has put his stamp on the Warrior football program.  The 2021 season saw the Warriors with a defensive unit ranked 22nd in the country, while the special teams corps was top-30 in terms of blocked kicks and 15th in kickoff return defense.  In 2018, WSU ranked 6th in turnover defense in NCAA Division II football and was seventh in interceptions. In 2019, Winona State's defense was also among the elite in NCAA Division II football, in both scoring defense (15th) and total team interceptions (5th).  Following the 2018 season, WSU had the 15th best punt return unit in NCAA Division football and the 22nd best kickoff return group. 

Three linebackers earned All-NSIC honors under DiMeco, Devon Moore, Nick Pridgeon, and Clay Scheueffner.  On special teams, Paul Ortiz, Jake Balliu and Isiah Hall each were named to multiple NSIC, D2CAA All-Super Region team and Don Hansen All-Region and All-America teams as position specialists over the course of their Warrior careers. 

During his time at Rutgers, DiMeco was a part of teams that had much success. In 2014, he worked with Special Teams standout players such as Janarion Grant, a Phil Steele Pre-Season All-American as well as Michael Burton, a 2014 fifth round pick of the Detroit Lions. The following year, he worked with the offensive line who saw Keith Lumpkin and Chris Muller become All-Big 10 Honorable Mention selections. In his final year at Rutgers, DiMeco worked with a Special Teams squad that ranked second in the Big 10 as well as 18^th in the country in kickoff coverage.

Prior to Rutgers, DiMeco spent a year at Holy Cross, where he served as the outside linebackers coach where he tutored Kyle Young, who received USA College Football FCS Rookie of the Week, Patriot League Rooky of the Week, and Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week in 2013.

Before taking the job at Holy Cross, DiMeco spent two years at Anna Maria College where he was the co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, and strength coach. He coached linebackers, Jordan Koehler and Kevin Card to  the 2012 All-Conference Team.

DiMeco was a four-year starter at Norwich University as an inside linebacker and was voted team captain his senior season. He earned First Team All-Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) honors as a junior. In 2009, the Cadets won the ECFC title defeating Mount Ida, 49-14. DiMeco lead Norwich with nine total tackles.

DiMeco is a native of Holden, Mass and currently lives in Winona with his wife, Jacky, daughter Cecilia, and twins, Rocco Jr. and Emilia.