TicketsMark Dantonio Named UC Football Coach
Ohio native promises to make a difference
Contact: Tom Hathaway
12/23/2003
(L to R) President Dr. Nancy Zimpher, Head Football Coach Mark Dantonio and Athletics Director Bob Goin |
CINCINNATI, Ohio ? Mark Dantonio, architect of the defense which helped Ohio State University win the 2002 national championship, has been named head football coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Dantonio succeeds Rick Minter, who was relieved of his coaching duties at the completion of the 2003 season.
"Mark Dantonio has incredible coaching experience at the highest level and he is one of the top assistant coaches in major college football," said University of Cincinnati Director of Athletics Bob Goin. "He has tremendous ties in the state of Ohio and we are exciting about having Mark take leadership in the football program at the University of Cincinnati. I was also impressed with his dedication to his faith, family, and profession. Those qualities really surfaced during the process."
Dantonio has served as the Buckeyes? defensive coordinator the past three seasons, crafting the defense which has been the backbone of OSU's success.
Ohio State's defense was the nation's stingiest against the run in 2003, allowing 60.5 yards per game, and was ranked No. 9 in total defense and No. 13 in scoring defense.
Dantonio assembled the defense which led Ohio State to the national title in 2002. The Buckeyes were second nationally in scoring defense (13.1) and third in rushing defense (77.7) during their perfect season.
Dantonio has complied 23 seasons of coaching experience in the college ranks, 12 of them in the state of Ohio, where he earned all-state football honors as a senior at Zanesville High.
Prior to his stint at Ohio State, Dantonio spent six seasons (1995-2000) as secondary coach at Michigan State, where he served as associate head coach in 2000. He previously was the defensive backs coach at Kansas for four seasons (1991-94).
A 1979 graduate of South Carolina, where he earned three football letters as a defensive back, Dantonio began his coaching career as an assistant at Westside High in Anderson, S.C.
In 1980, he served as graduate assistant at Ohio University, where he earned his master's degree. He spent the 1981 season as a graduate assistant at Purdue and was defensive coordinator at Butler County (Kan.) Community College in 1982.
Dantonio was a member of the Ohio State football staff in 1983 and 1984, helping the Buckeyes to the Fiesta and Rose bowls. After spending the 1985 season as secondary coach at Akron, he joined Jim Tressel's staff at Youngstown State. The Penguins made three trips to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs during his five seasons there, and posted a perfect 11-0 regular season record in 1990, when Dantonio was YSU's defensive coordinator.
When Tressel became head coach at Ohio State, Dantonio joined him as the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator.
"Mark Dantonio is an outstanding football coach," stated Tressel. "More importantly, he is an outstanding person and family man. Mark will serve the Cincinnati community and college community extremely well. He's the kind of coach and person who cares about his players and the people around him. We hate to lose him, but I'm extremely proud that he has achieved this position and wish him the very best."
Dantonio will coach the Buckeyes' defense on Jan. 2 when Ohio State plays Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Dantonio, 47, and his wife Becky are the proud parents of two children, Kristen (11) and Lauren (8).
Mark Dantonio
at a glance
Born: March 9, 1956 in Zanesville, Ohio
Wife: Becky
Children: Kristen (11), Lauren (8)
High School: Zanesville (Ohio) High
College: South Carolina (1979)
Coaching Experience:
1979 Anderson (S.C.) Westside High (assistant coach)
1980 Ohio University (graduate assistant)
1981 Purdue (graduate assistant)
1982 Butler County Community College
(defensive coordinator)
1983-84 Ohio State (graduate assistant)
1985 Akron (secondary)
1985-90 Youngstown State (secondary/
defensive coordinator)
1991-94 Kansas (secondary)
1995-00 Michigan State (secondary/assoc. head coach)
2001-03 Ohio State (defensive coordinator)
Coaching Highlights:
? 2003?Ohio State was No. 1 nationally in rushing defense (60.5), No. 9 in total defense (290.1) and No. 13 in scoring defense (16.8).
? 2002?Ohio State team No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (13.1) and No. 3 in rushing defense (77.7).
? 2001?Ohio State team No. 1 in Big Ten in passing defense and No. 2 in scoring defense.
? Youngstown State made three NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances during Dantonio?s tenure there.
? Coached in four bowl games, including the 2002 Fiesta Bowl national championship.
Playing Experience:
? Three-year letterman as a defensive back at South Carolina (1976-78).
? All-state honors as a senior at Zanesville High.