Danny Rocco

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Danny Rocco

Title Head coach
College Liberty University
Sport Football
Conference Big South
Team record 14–8
Born July 16, 1960
Place of birth Flag of Pennsylvania Huntingdon, PA
Annual salary Thru 2012
Career highlights
Overall 14–8
Coaching stats
College Football DataWarehouse
Championships
2007 Big South Championship
Awards
2006 Big South Coach of the Year
2007 Big South Coach of the Year
Playing career
1979-80
1981-83		 Penn State
Wake Forest
Position Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1984-85
1986
1987
1988-90
1991-93
1994-97
1998-99
2000
2001-05
2006-present		 Wake Forest Grad Assistant
Wake Forest Assistant
Colorado Assistant
Tulsa Assistant
Boston College Assistant
Texas Assistant
Maryland Assistant
New York Jets Assistant
Virginia Assoc. Head Coach
Liberty

Daniel Christopher Rocco (born July 16, 1960[1] in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania) is the current head coach of the Liberty University college football team and a former assistant coach of the New York Jets of the NFL. Rocco has over 23 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience. Rocco earned his Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communications from Wake Forest in 1984. He then added an Education and Counseling Master's Degree from Wake Forest in 1987. He is the son of former Penn State assistant coach Frank Rocco Sr. and the brother of former Penn State quarterback Frank Rocco Jr.[2]

Contents

[edit] Current position

Rocco was named the head coach of the Flames on December 2, 2005, succeeding Ken Karcher. He began his first stint as a head coach at any level taking over a program that went 1-10 the season before he arrived in 2005.[3]

In his first season as head coach at Liberty in 2006, he led the Flames to a 6-5 record and was honored by the Big South Conference as their Coach of the Year. He then followed that up in 2007 by leading the Flames to an 8-3 record and the school's first ever Big South Conference Championship and his second consecutive Coach of the Year distinction.

In February 2008, the university extended Rocco's contract through the 2012 season.[4]

[edit] Coaching history

Throughout his coaching career, Rocco has been a friend and protégé of Al Groh, working with him for over 6 years in both collegiate and professional positions.

Rocco began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant then defensive line coach at Wake Forest University from 1984-86. After a season coaching linebackers at the Colorado under Bill McCartney, he spent three seasons at Tulsa. Next stop for Rocco was Boston College and three years under Tom Coughlin as defensive line coach.[5]

[edit] Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl TSN[6]#
Liberty Flames (Big South) (2006 – Present)
2006 Liberty 6–5 2-2 3rd
2007 Liberty 8–3 4–0 1st
Liberty: 14–8 6-2
Total: 14-8
      National Championship         Conference Title         Conference Division Title
Preceded by
Ken Karcher		 Liberty Flames Head Football Coach
2006—		 Succeeded by
Current Coach

[edit] Playing history

Rocco played linebacker for Joe Paterno at Penn State earning letters in 1979 and 1980. He played in the 1979 Liberty Bowl and the 1980 Fiesta Bowl for the Nittany Lions. He then transferred to Wake Forest under then head coach Al Groh where he started for two more seasons at outside linebacker in 1982 and 1983. He was named team captain of the Demon Deacons in 1983.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b 1995 University of Texas Football Media Guide p. 94
  2. ^ Coaching staff - Danny Rocco. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
  3. ^ Coaching staff - Danny Rocco. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
  4. ^ Lynchburg NewsAdvance Article on Contract Extension. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  5. ^ Coaching staff - Danny Rocco. Retrieved on 2007-11-22.
  6. ^ Final poll standings are from The Sports Network.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Current Head Football Coaches of the Big South Conference
v • d • e
Liberty Flames Head Football Coaches

Royer • Cartwright • Dowling • Hout • Rutigliano • Karcher • Rocco