Joe Dineen is in his first season as a defensive graduate assistant at Illinois in 2022. Dineen was an All-American linebacker at Kansas before a stint in the NFL.

Dineen comes to Champaign from SMU, where he was a defensive graduate assistant under then-SMU defensive coordinator Kevin Kane. Dineen reunites with Kane and will work closely with Kane's unit, the outside linebackers.

At Kansas, Dineen was a 2018 consensus All-American, AP All-American and two-time Sports Illustrated All-American. Dineen was also an All-Big 12 first-team selection and three-time team captain.

Dineen twice led the NCAA in solo tackles per game and was the Big 12 leader in tackles and tackles per loss.

Off the field, he was recognized as a Senior Class All-American, a Ronnie Lott IMPACT Award and Jason Witten Man of the Year Semifinalist and a nominee for the Allstate Good Works Team. Dineen was also a member of the Big 12 All-Academic Team, a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioners Honor Roll and a member of the Athletic Directors Honor Roll.

Dineen is a native of Lawrence, Kansas, and starred at Free State High School. He graduated from Kansas in 2018 with a degree in business management and leadership.