Mark Dantonio Adds Three More Assistant Football Coaches

Spartan head coach brings Harlon Barnett, Mike Tressel and Dave Warner from his staff in Cincinnati. 

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State first-year head coach Mark Dantonio announced Friday he has filled three more positions on his coaching staff: secondary coach Harlon Barnett, linebackers/special teams coach Mike Tressel and quarterbacks coach Dave Warner. On Thursday, Dantonio named the first four members of his staff: offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, defensive line coach Ted Gill, offensive line coach Dan Roushar and tight ends/tackles coach and recruiting coordinator Mark Staten. All seven coaches join Dantonio from Cincinnati.

 

"It’s exciting for me to have seven of my former assistants at Cincinnati already on board here at Michigan State," Dantonio said. "These coaches know our system from A to Z, so the transfer of information from staff to player should be relatively smooth. Sometimes with a coaching transition, it’s a challenge for the head coach to get all nine of his assistants on the same page, but that won’t be an issue here at all. They’ve all definitely been able to hit the ground running."

 

Here’s a look at the three new members of the Spartan coaching staff:

 

Barnett, a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State (1986-89) as a defensive back who was named a captain as a senior, returns to East Lansing with seven years of professional playing experience and nine seasons of coaching experience. He spent three seasons as secondary coach on Coach Dantonio’s staff at Cincinnati. Two members of the secondary, Daven Holly and Doug Monaghan, earned all-conference recognition during his initial season, with Holly taken in the 2005 NFL Draft. The unit ranked 26th nationally and first in Conference USA in pass defense. In 2005, Barnett aided the development of Mike Mickens, who earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors and was a third-team Freshman All-American. This season, the secondary currently ranks 23rd in the country in pass efficiency defense and was led by Mike Mickens, who ranks first in the BIG EAST in pass defended (17) and pass break-ups (15). In addition, senior Dominic Ross was first on the team with four interceptions, which places him among the national leaders.

, a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State (1986-89) as a defensive back who was named a captain as a senior, returns to East Lansing with seven years of professional playing experience and nine seasons of coaching experience. He spent three seasons as secondary coach on Coach Dantonio’s staff at Cincinnati. Two members of the secondary, Daven Holly and Doug Monaghan, earned all-conference recognition during his initial season, with Holly taken in the 2005 NFL Draft. The unit ranked 26th nationally and first in Conference USA in pass defense. In 2005, Barnett aided the development of Mike Mickens, who earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors and was a third-team Freshman All-American. This season, the secondary currently ranks 23rd in the country in pass efficiency defense and was led by Mike Mickens, who ranks first in the BIG EAST in pass defended (17) and pass break-ups (15). In addition, senior Dominic Ross was first on the team with four interceptions, which places him among the national leaders.

 

Barnett landed his first collegiate coaching job as a graduate assistant at LSU in 2003 under Nick Saban, where he was a part of the Tigers’ National Championship campaign. He began his coaching career at Princeton High in Cincinnati, where he spent two seasons as the secondary coach (1998-99) and three years as the defensive coordinator (2000-02).

 

A native of Cincinnati, Barnett was a three-year starter for Coach George Perles at Michigan State. He was a member of the 1987 Big Ten Championship team that went 9-2-1 overall and finished eighth in the final polls. Barnett, who also played in the Gator Bowl and the Aloha Bowl during his time as a player at MSU, earned first-team All-America recognition by The Sporting News as a senior in 1989. He was a primary reason that the Green and White ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 11 nationally in both rushing defense (95.4 ypg.) and total defense (280.5 ypg.). He compiled 73 stops, high among Spartan DBs, along with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He finished his career with 154 tackles, six interceptions and 13 pass break-ups.

 

Following his impressive career at Michigan State, Barnett was taken in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, where he played for three seasons. He spent two seasons at New England (1993-94) and two more with Minnesota (1995-96).

 

"Harlon Barnett is a true Spartan," Dantonio said. "He was an All-American here at Michigan State and spent seven seasons in the National Football Leauge before beginning his coaching career. Harlon has experienced success at the highest level, both as a coach and as a player. As a teacher, he emphasizes proper technique while demanding great energy and effort. His players play hard and with great confidence. In addition, Harlon is a well known recruiter throughout Ohio."

Tressel comes from a bloodline of successful coaches and has been a part of championship football programs. He has spent the last three seasons on Coach Dantonio’s staff in Cincinnati, working with linebackers and special teams. In his first season at Cincinnati, his three linebackers ranked first, third and fifth in tackles for the Bearcats, with Jamar Enzor and Tyjuan Hagler both earning all-conference honors. Hagler was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by Indianapolis. In 2005, he helped develop Corey Smith into a second-team All-BIG EAST Conference selection and a berth on the Freshman All-America team. This season, he tutored middle linebacker Kevin McCullough, who leads the team in tackles and ranks fifth in the BIG EAST and 48th nationally with 13.5 tackles for loss.

comes from a bloodline of successful coaches and has been a part of championship football programs. He has spent the last three seasons on Coach Dantonio’s staff in Cincinnati, working with linebackers and special teams. In his first season at Cincinnati, his three linebackers ranked first, third and fifth in tackles for the Bearcats, with Jamar Enzor and Tyjuan Hagler both earning all-conference honors. Hagler was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by Indianapolis. In 2005, he helped develop Corey Smith into a second-team All-BIG EAST Conference selection and a berth on the Freshman All-America team. This season, he tutored middle linebacker Kevin McCullough, who leads the team in tackles and ranks fifth in the BIG EAST and 48th nationally with 13.5 tackles for loss.

 

Prior to arriving at Cincinnati, Tressel served two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio State (2002-03), where he contributed to the Buckeyes’ National Championship team in 2002. He previously coached at Wartburg (Iowa) College for four seasons (1998-01), helping the school to one conference title and a 36-4 record during his tenure. He was the offensive line coach for three years and the offensive coordinator for one season.

 

A four-year starter in the secondary at Cornell (Iowa) College, Tressel twice earned Academic All-America honors. Upon graduation in 1996, he launched his coaching career at South Dakota as a graduate assistant for two seasons (1996-97), working with the offense.

 

Tressel is the nephew of Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, who in addition to winning the 2002 National Championship with the Buckeyes, won four Division I-AA national championships at Youngstown State. Mike’s grandfather, Lee Tressel, won a Division III national championship and was one of the winningest coaches in that division at Baldwin-Wallace College. His father, Richard, is currently in his sixth season as running backs coach at Ohio State after serving as head coach at Hamline for 23 seasons.

 

"Mike Tressel is an excellent young football coach," Dantonio said. "I brought Mike to Cincinnati from Ohio State where he served as a graduate assistant. He’s been a total asset over the last three years. Mike is extremely intelligent, and he pays great attention to detail."

 

Warner, who spent one season as quarterbacks coach on Coach Dantonio’s staff at Cincinnati, recently completed his 23rd year of collegiate coaching. Warner has been a quarterbacks coach and/or offensive coordinator or passing game coordinator for 19 of his previous 23 seasons as a college assistant. In his first season at Cincinnati, Warner mentored two starting quarterbacks in Dustin Grutza and Nick Davila. Grutza ranks among the national leaders in passing efficiency (123.86 rating) and total offense (168.09), while Davila orchestrated the offense in Cincinnati’s 30-11 upset over then-No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18 as he completed 11 of 15 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.

, who spent one season as quarterbacks coach on Coach Dantonio’s staff at Cincinnati, recently completed his 23rd year of collegiate coaching. Warner has been a quarterbacks coach and/or offensive coordinator or passing game coordinator for 19 of his previous 23 seasons as a college assistant. In his first season at Cincinnati, Warner mentored two starting quarterbacks in Dustin Grutza and Nick Davila. Grutza ranks among the national leaders in passing efficiency (123.86 rating) and total offense (168.09), while Davila orchestrated the offense in Cincinnati’s 30-11 upset over then-No. 7 Rutgers on Nov. 18 as he completed 11 of 15 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown.

 

Before coaching at Cincinnati, Warner coached wide receivers at Southern Miss in 2003 and 2004. He has also made stops as the passing coordinator at Houston (2001-02), offensive coordinator at Connecticut (1999-2000), passing game coordinator at Wyoming (1998) and quarterbacks coach at Bucknell (1997). Warner and Dantonio also coached together for four seasons at Kansas, when Dantonio was the secondary coach for the Jayhawks from 1991-94. Warner spent nine total seasons as quarterbacks coach for Kansas (1988-96). Prior to KU, Warner spent four years on the staff at Kent State (1984-87), including the last two as quarterbacks coach.

 

A three-year letterwinner as a quarterback at Syracuse, Warner finished his playing career ranked seventh in career passing yards (2,593) and was a member of the 1979 team that won the Independence Bowl. After graduating in 1982, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Orange, working with the quarterbacks and offensive backs.

 

Warner has coached in four bowl games: the 2004 New Orleans and 2003 Liberty Bowls while at Southern Miss, and the 1992 and 1995 Aloha Bowls while at Kansas.

 

Among Warner’s top products was Kansas’ Chip Hilleary, who became only the second player in Big Eight Conference history to rush for over 1,000 yards and pass for more than 4,000 yards. At Wyoming, he developed a passing attack that was ranked third in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

"Dave Warner is a mature football coach, with almost 25 years of coaching experience under his belt, and I love his competitiveness," Dantonio said. "The 2006 season was his first on my coaching staff at Cincinnati, but Dave and I worked together previously at Kansas."

ASSISTANT COACHES AT A GLANCE THE BARNETT FILE PERSONAL DATA:

Born Jan. 2, 1967. Family: wife Tammy; son Todd (12) and daughter Tori (11).

 

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:

College - Graduate assistant coach at LSU (2003); secondary coach at Cincinnati (2004-06).

 

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in communication from Michigan State in 1990.

 

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:

College - Four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Michigan State (1986-89) and named captain as a senior.

 

BOWL/POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:

Coach - 2004 Sugar, 2004 Fort Worth. Player - 1988 Rose, 1989 Gator, 1989 Aloha.

 

THE TRESSEL FILE PERSONAL DATA:

Born Sept. 28, 1973. Family: wife Megan; son Logan (5) and daughter Quincy (2).

 

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:

College - Graduate assistant coach at South Dakota (1996-97); offensive line (1998-2000) and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks (2001) at Wartburg (Iowa) College; graduate assistant linebackers coach at Ohio State (2002-03); linebackers and special teams at Cincinnati (2004-06).

 

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Cornell (Iowa) College in 1996; master’s degree in sports administration at South Dakota in 1998.

 

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:

College - Four-year starter in the secondary at Cornell (Iowa) College (1992-95).

 

BOWL/POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:

Coach - 1999 NCAA Division III Playoffs, 2003 Fiesta Bowl, 2004 Fiesta Bowl, 2004 Fort Worth Bowl.

 

THE WARNER FILE PERSONAL DATA:

Born May 10, 1960. Family: wife Leigh Ann; daughter Alexandra (15) and son Jackson (2).

 

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:

College - Graduate assistant at Syracuse (1982-83); running backs (1984-85) and quarterbacks (1986-87) at Kent State; quarterbacks at Kansas (1988-96); quarterbacks at Bucknell (1997); passing game coordinator at Wyoming (1998); offensive coordinator at Connecticut (1999-2000); passing game coordinator at Houston (2001-02); wide receivers at Southern Miss (2003-04); quarterbacks at Cincinnati (2006).

 

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse in 1982.

 

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:

College - Three-year letterwinner as a quarterback at Syracuse (1979-81).

 

BOWL/POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:

Coach - 1992 Aloha, 1995 Aloha, 2003 Liberty, 2004 New Orleans. Player - 1979 Independence.

 

 

Courtesy of the MSU SID