Mark Emil D'Onofrio (born March 17, 1969) is an American college football coach and former professional player. He is currently the inside linebackers coach for the Stanford Cardinal. He was formerly the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the University of Houston.[2] D'Onofrio played collegiately as a linebacker at Pennsylvania State University and thereafter was drafted by the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL).

Mark D'Onofrio
D'Onofrio with the Miami Hurricanes
Current position
TitleInside linebackers coach
TeamStanford
ConferenceACC
Biographical details
Born (1969-03-17) March 17, 1969 (age 55)
Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
Playing career
1988–1991Penn State
1992–1993[1]Green Bay Packers
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1999Saint Peter's (LB)
2000Georgia (DA)
2001Rutgers (LB)
2002–2003Rutgers (LB/RC)
2004Virginia (TE/ST)
2005Virginia (ILB/ST)
2006–2007Temple (DC)
2008–2009Temple (AHC/DC)
2010Temple (AHC/DC/LB)
2011–2015Miami (FL) (AHC/DC)
2017–2018Houston (DC/ILB)
2022Wisconsin (ILB)
2023–presentStanford (ILB)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Playing career

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D'Onofrio played at the collegiate level with the Penn State Nittany Lions, where he was a team captain. In the 1992 NFL draft, D'Onofrio was selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers.[3] He became a starter with the team that season, however a severe injury would cause him to retire soon after.

Coaching career

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D'Onofrio's first coaching experience was as linebackers coach at Saint Peter's College. The next year, he became a defensive assistant with the Georgia Bulldogs. From there he was a linebackers coach with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and tight ends, special teams, and inside linebackers coach with the Virginia Cavaliers. He joined the Temple Owls in 2006 as a defensive coordinator, later being promoted to the Assistant Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator.

He followed head coach Al Golden, his brother-in-law, to the University of Miami in the same position he held at Temple for the Miami Hurricanes football team in December 2010. Al Golden came to Coral Gables to replace Randy Shannon. After Golden was fired in the wake of a 58-0 loss to Clemson, D'Onofrio finished out the 2015 season as defensive coordinator and was then terminated following Miami's SunBowl loss to Washington State, 20-16.[4] He spent 2016 out of football while coaching at the Boys & Girls Club in Miami.

On January 6, 2017, D'Onofrio was hired by the Houston Cougars as their defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, beginning with the 2017 season.[5]

On November 25, 2018, Major Applewhite announced that D'Onofrio had been relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator at the University of Houston.[6]

In early June 2022, it was reported that D'Onofrio would be hired by Paul Chryst and the Wisconsin Badgers as the inside linebackers coach.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mark D'Onofrio". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  2. ^ UH, Major Applewhite fill out coaching staff by Joseph Duarte. Houston Chronicle, January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  3. ^ "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Berkes, Peter (December 26, 2015). "Wazzu beats Miami in extremely snowy Sun Bowl". SBNation.com. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  5. ^ UH, Major Applewhite fill out coaching staff by Joseph Duarte. Houston Chronicle, January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  6. ^ UH fires defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio by Joseph Duarte. Houston Chronicle, November 25, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  7. ^ Bartholomew, Colten (June 6, 2022). "Wisconsin football adding Mark D'Onofrio to coaching staff, report says". lancasteronline.com. LNP Media Group, LLC. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
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