Temple University Athletics
Football
D'Onofrio, Mark
Mark D'Onofrio
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator
Mark D’Onofrio, who was Al Golden’s teammate at Penn State before becoming a colleague at Virginia, is in his fifth season at Temple. After serving as the Owls’ defensive coordinator for two seasons, D’Onofrio was promoted by Golden to assistant head coach/defensive coordinator in the spring of 2008. D'Onofrio, who played professionally with the Green Bay Packers, has 10 seasons of collegiate coaching experience.
In 2009, D’Onofrio’s defense helped TU win a single-season record nine consecutive games en route to a 9-4 overall record and first-place tie in the MAC?East. A school record eight defensive players were named All-MAC, including five on the first team.?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 to the team’s most wins since 1990 and a second-place finish in the MAC?East. Facing five opponents that went on to postseason play, the Owls persevered to new heights, led by All-MAC?honorees senior DT?Terrance Knighton, Temple’s first First Team selection, and DT?Andre Neblett.
During its inaugural season of Mid-American Conference play in 2007, D’Onofrio guided the Temple defense to new heights. TU led the MAC in five defensive statistical categories, including red zone defense which also ranked first nationally.
Toting the No. 1 defense in the MAC, DT Andre Neblett and DB Dominique Harris earned All-MAC honors as sophomores in 2007.
In 2005, D’Onofrio coached the inside linebackers in UVa’s 3-4 scheme that was the under the direction of Golden, who served as coordinator. In 2004, D’Onofrio was in charge of tight ends. He was responsible for special teams in both of his seasons in Charlottesville.
Linebacker Kai Parham earned first team All-ACC honors under D’Onofrio’s tutelage in 2005 after making nine sacks, the second most for an inside linebacker in league history. Kicker Connor Hughes was also a first team All-ACC selection, ranking seventh nationally in field goals. Cedric Peerman ranked 15th nationally in kickoff returns as the UVA kickoff return unit ranked 18th in the country.
In his first season at UVa, D’Onofrio worked with All-American Heath Miller, who owns all school records for tight end receiving and won the Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end. Virginia also ranked second in the country in kickoff returns with a 26.6-yard average, UVa’s highest average since 1963. Miller and Alvin Pearman were selected in the first and fourth rounds of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively.
D’Onofrio arrived in Charlottesville after three years at Rutgers, where he served as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. Under his tutelage, linebacker Gary Brackett was named Rutgers’ MVP in 2001 and 2002. Brackett is in his third season with the Indianapolis Colts and starts at middle linebacker.
D’Onofrio broke into the collegiate coaching 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.
The North Bergen (N.J.) native played at Penn State, where he starred at both inside and outside linebacker from 1988-91. He led the Nittany Lions in sacks (11) as a sophomore and tackles (71) as a junior. As a senior, he was elected captain and finished second in total tackles despite missing six games with an injury. He set the Penn State school record for causing the most fumbles in one season (five) and finished his career ranked in the top 10 in sacks with 15.
D’Onofrio was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round (34th overall pick) of the 1992 NFL draft and started at inside linebacker as a rookie. His playing career was cut short by an injury and he retired in 1994.
Born March 17, 1969, 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 (8) and Thomas (5).
In 2009, D’Onofrio’s defense helped TU win a single-season record nine consecutive games en route to a 9-4 overall record and first-place tie in the MAC?East. A school record eight defensive players were named All-MAC, including five on the first team.?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 to the team’s most wins since 1990 and a second-place finish in the MAC?East. Facing five opponents that went on to postseason play, the Owls persevered to new heights, led by All-MAC?honorees senior DT?Terrance Knighton, Temple’s first First Team selection, and DT?Andre Neblett.
During its inaugural season of Mid-American Conference play in 2007, D’Onofrio guided the Temple defense to new heights. TU led the MAC in five defensive statistical categories, including red zone defense which also ranked first nationally.
Toting the No. 1 defense in the MAC, DT Andre Neblett and DB Dominique Harris earned All-MAC honors as sophomores in 2007.
In 2005, D’Onofrio coached the inside linebackers in UVa’s 3-4 scheme that was the under the direction of Golden, who served as coordinator. In 2004, D’Onofrio was in charge of tight ends. He was responsible for special teams in both of his seasons in Charlottesville.
Linebacker Kai Parham earned first team All-ACC honors under D’Onofrio’s tutelage in 2005 after making nine sacks, the second most for an inside linebacker in league history. Kicker Connor Hughes was also a first team All-ACC selection, ranking seventh nationally in field goals. Cedric Peerman ranked 15th nationally in kickoff returns as the UVA kickoff return unit ranked 18th in the country.
In his first season at UVa, D’Onofrio worked with All-American Heath Miller, who owns all school records for tight end receiving and won the Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end. Virginia also ranked second in the country in kickoff returns with a 26.6-yard average, UVa’s highest average since 1963. Miller and Alvin Pearman were selected in the first and fourth rounds of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively.
D’Onofrio arrived in Charlottesville after three years at Rutgers, where he served as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. Under his tutelage, linebacker Gary Brackett was named Rutgers’ MVP in 2001 and 2002. Brackett is in his third season with the Indianapolis Colts and starts at middle linebacker.
D’Onofrio broke into the collegiate coaching 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.
The North Bergen (N.J.) native played at Penn State, where he starred at both inside and outside linebacker from 1988-91. He led the Nittany Lions in sacks (11) as a sophomore and tackles (71) as a junior. As a senior, he was elected captain and finished second in total tackles despite missing six games with an injury. He set the Penn State school record for causing the most fumbles in one season (five) and finished his career ranked in the top 10 in sacks with 15.
D’Onofrio was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round (34th overall pick) of the 1992 NFL draft and started at inside linebacker as a rookie. His playing career was cut short by an injury and he retired in 1994.
Born March 17, 1969, 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 (8) and Thomas (5).
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