Siriki Diabate (pronounced si-RIK-ee DEE-ah-BAH-tay) joined the Miami Dolphins as a defensive quality control coach in 2026.

Siriki Diabate (pronounced si-RIK-ee DEE-ah-BAH-tay) joined the Miami Dolphins as a defensive quality control coach in 2026.

The 2026 season marks his 14th year of coaching, including 13 seasons at the collegiate level and his first in the NFL.

Diabate was named Colorado State's linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator in January 2026 before joining the Dolphins. Prior to Colorado State, he spent the past four seasons at Connecticut (2022-25), serving as the team's linebacker's coach (2022-23). He was promoted to linebackers coach/defensive run game coordinator for his final two seasons with the Huskies (2024-25).

In 2025, Diabate coached the team's leading tacklers, linebackers Bryun Parham and Oumar Diomandre. Parham, who transferred from the University of Washington, was named a Walter Camp Player of the Year finalist after leading the team defensively with 126 tackles, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Diomande had a strong campaign in his redshirt sophomore season, as he recorded 116 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks.

In 2024, Diabate mentored linebacker Jayden McDonald, who totaled 125 tackles and averaged 9.6 tackles per game in his first season with the Huskies. His 125 total tackles ranked ninth nationally, while his 9.6 tackles per game ranked 15^th.

In 2023, Diabate coached linebacker Jackson Mitchell during his final season at Connecticut, as Mitchell capped one of the most impressive linebacker careers in program history. He led the Huskies with 113 tackles and finished his career with 438 stops, ranking third all-time at UConn.

In his first season at UConn, Diabate helped Jackson put together one of the most productive seasons of his career, leading the nation in fumble recoveries (five) and finishing with the fourth-most total tackles (140). Jackson earned All-New England honors and was a Butkus Award Semifinalist.

Before Connecticut, Diabate spent five seasons (2017-21) at Middle Tennessee State, where he served as the linebackers coach. In 2020, he was selected to 247Sports' 30Under30 list, which highlights rising stars from coaching staffs, graduate assistants and personnel across college football.

Diabate mentored linebacker DQ Thomas throughout his entire five-year tenure with MTSU. Thomas finished his collegiate career as the school's all-time leader in tackles for loss (53.0) and tied for third all-time in sacks (20.5). He was named second-team All-C USA in his final season with the Blue Raiders (2021).

In 2018, Diabate had three linebackers named to All-C USA honors – linebacker Darius Harris (first-team), Khalil Brooks (second-team) and DQ Thomas (honorable mention). Diabate mentored Brooks for two seasons (2017-18) as he earned second-team All-C-USA honors both years. He finished his career ranked third all-time in tackles for loss (38.0) and fourth in sacks (17.0) in program history.

In his first season with the Blue Raiders in 2017, Diabate coached in his first bowl game with Middle Tennessee where standout linebacker Darius Harris was named Bart Starr MVP in the Camellia Bowl.

Diabate joined Notre Dame in the spring of 2017 as a defensive analyst, where he worked primarily with the cornerbacks before accepting a role with Middle Tennessee State.

Diabate earned his first full-time coaching role at Colgate University in 2015. He served as the safeties coach for two seasons (2015-16) and helped lead the team to a Patriots League title in 2015 and an FCS quarterfinals run in 2016.

His coaching career began at his alma mater, Syracuse, where he spent two years (2013-14) as a graduate assistant. He earned a master's degree in science in 2015 after graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics in 2013.

Diabate was selected multiple times to participate in the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship. He spent time with the Green Bay Packers (2023-24), the Philadelphia Eagles (2023, training camp), the Chicago Bears (2021), the Dallas Cowboys (2016) and the Buffalo Bills (2014).

An Ivory Coast native, Diabate was raised in the Bronx, New York. He played linebacker at Nassau Community College (2009-10) where he was named NJCAA All-American and Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Following his sophomore year, Diabate transferred to Syracuse University (2011-13). He was named a co-captain his senior year and was a member of Syracuse's 2012 Big East and Pinstripe Bowl Championship team.