UM To Hold Championship Celebration at Halftime of Thursday Night Game
Mark D'Onofrio enters his second season as Miami's defensive coordinator. D'Onofrio's defense finished the season ranked ninth in the nation in red zone defense and 21st in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 20.08 points per game. The Canes' defense held foes to seven points below scoring average on the season, while holding Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Florida State and South Florida to a combined 22 points below scoring average. The defense, under D'Onofrio's guidance, finished strong and proved stingy, giving up an average of only 13.5 points in the last five games of the season.
Prior to the 2011 season, D'Onofrio saw two of his Temple standouts drafted, now are active on NFL rosters. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson was taken in the first round by the New York Jets and free safety Jaiqwaun Jarrett went in the second round to the Philadelphia Eagles. In all, three Owls were drafted during D'Onofrio's tenure and five former players are active in the NFL.
A native of North Bergen, N.J., D'Onofrio brings two years of NFL playing experience and 12 years of collegiate coaching experience to his position as defensive coordinator for the University of Miami. D'Onofrio was a member of Head Coach Al Golden's staff at Temple University where he served for two years as defensive coordinator before being promoted to Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator for the Owls in 2008.
Under D'Onofrio's tutelage, he transformed a Temple defense ranked last in the NCAA upon his arrival to 17th in 2010. In addition, Temple defenses won a single-season-record nine consecutive games en route to a 9-4 overall record and first-place tie in the MAC East in 2009. The 2010 Owls won eight games, finishing 8-4, and became bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season for the first time in school history. A school-record eight defensive players were named All-MAC, including five on the first team in 2009. Four student-athletes earned All-MAC honors in 2010. Sophomore Adrian Robinson earned 2009 MAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades and senior Andre Neblett became Temple's first three-time All-MAC honoree.
In 2008, D'Onofrio's defense helped Temple their team's most wins since 1990 and a second-place finish in the MAC East. The Owls faced five opponents that went on to postseason play, led by All-MAC honorees senior DT Terrance Knighton, Temple's first first-team selection, and Neblett. During its inaugural season of Mid-American Conference play, D'Onofrio guided the Temple defense to lead the MAC in five defensive statistical categories, including red zone defense which also ranked first nationally.
D'Onofrio broke into the college ranks in 1999 at Saint Peter's College in New Jersey where he coached the linebackers. He then spent the 2000 season as an assistant coach at Georgia, where he worked with the Bulldogs' defense. He arrived at the University of Virginia in 2004, joining former teammate Al Golden and the rest of the UVa. coaching staff after three years with Rutgers University where he coached linebackers and served as a recruiting coordinator. He coached the Cavaliers' tight ends and special teams for one season before switching to inside linebackers coach for the 2005 season. In 2006, he followed Golden to Temple University where he was named the Owls' defensive coordinator.
From 1988-91 D'Onofrio played at Penn State alongside Golden and served the Nittany Lions playing both inside and outside linebacker. He was elected team captain his senior year and was drafted in the second round (34th overall pick) of the 1992 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers. He earned a starting role as the Packers' inside linebacker where he played for two seasons before injury prematurely ended his professional career in 1994.
D'Onofrio earned his bachelor's degree in labor and industrial relations from Penn State in 1992. He is married to the former Lucia Mariucci of Marlboro, N.J. The couple has two sons, Jack (9) and Thomas (6).
D'ONOFRIO AT A GLANCE
Personal Info
Full Name
Mark D'Onofrio
Age
42
Hometown
North Bergen, N.J.
Education
B.A. in Labor and Industrial Relations, Penn State University (1992)
Wife
Lucia
Children
Sons, Jack and Thomas
D'Onofrio's Coaching Career
2011
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator University of Miami
2010
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Temple University
2008-09
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, Temple University
2006-07
Defensive Coordinator, Temple University
2005
Inside Linebackers/Special Teams, University of Virginia
2004
Tight Ends/Special Teams, University of Virginia
2002-03
Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator, Rutgers University
2001
Linebackers, Rutgers University
2000
Defensive Assistant, University of Georgia
1999
Linebackers, Saint Peter's College (N.J.)
Bowl Games as a Coach (1)
2009
EagleBank Bowl
Honors as a Player (Penn State)
Led team in sacks (11) as a sophomore and tackles (71) as a junior
Elected team captain as a senior
Set Penn State school record for causing the most fumbles (five) in one season
Selected in the second round (34th overall pick) of the 1992 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers
Coaching Accomplishments
Coached Temple to single-season record nine consecutive wins in 2009
Coached Temple to first-place tie in the MAC East in 2009
Coached Temple school record eight defensive players to All-MAC honors in 2009
Prominent Players Coached
Muhammad Wilkerson (TU)
2010 First-Round NFL Draft pick by the New York Jets
