Gerry DiNardo
Encyclopedia
Gerard DiNardo is a former American football
player and coach. He played college football
as a guard
for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
where he was selected as an All-American in 1974
. DiNardo served as the head football coach at Vanderbilt University
(1991–1994), Louisiana State University
(1995–1999), and Indiana University (2002–2004), compiling a career college football record of 59–76–1. In 2001, he was the head coach of the Birmingham Thunderbolts
of the XFL
.
, where he played guard from 1972 to 1974 for coach Ara Parseghian
. DiNardo was a member of the school's 1973 national championship team
, and an All-American in 1974. Incidentally, DiNardo honed his blocking skills against Rudy Ruettiger, a member of the scout team during DiNardo's time at Notre Dame. DiNardo's older brother, Larry, was also an All-American at Notre Dame from 1968–70.
in 1975. In 1982, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Colorado
under head coach Bill McCartney
. DiNardo was the offensive coordinator
when Colorado
won the national championship
in 1990. The Buffaloes' offensive line coach from 1982 through 1986 was Les Miles
, who became LSU's head coach in 2005 and still holds that position.
, starting in the 1991 season. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Vanderbilt finished 3–8, 1–10, and 1–10. DiNardo took over and went 5–6, 4–7, 5–6, and 5–6 from 1991 to 1994. DiNardo's two biggest wins were when he led the Commodores
to victory over #17 Georgia on October 19, 1991 and #25 Ole Miss
on September 19, 1992.
. He took over a program that had six straight losing seasons and that hadn't been ranked in the AP Poll
since 1989. DiNardo improved LSU's fortunes, bringing back the tradition of wearing white jerseys during home games.
In his first season at LSU in 1995, the Tigers opened with a loss at #3 Texas A&M
on September 2, 1995. However, during LSU's first home game on September 16, 1995, DiNardo led LSU to a 12–6 upset victory over #5 Auburn
, a game which went down to the last play. Following the victory, LSU spent the next three weeks in the AP Poll before losing to #3 Florida
on October 7, 1995. LSU's next losses were to unranked Kentucky
on October 14, 1995 and #16 Alabama
on November 4, 1995. LSU finished the season by beating #14 Arkansas
on November 18, 1995. The Tigers then went to the Independence Bowl
, where they beat unranked Michigan State
, 45–26, coached by Nick Saban
, who replaced DiNardo at LSU in 1999.
In 1996, LSU began the season with a preseason ranking of #19. After LSU defeated #14 Auburn, the Tigers lost to #1 Florida
, and #10 Alabama
, finishing the regular season at 9–2. LSU went to the Peach Bowl where they beat unranked Clemson
, by a score of 10–7. LSU finished the season ranked #12.
In 1997, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #10. After losing to #12 Auburn, LSU faced off against #1 Florida at Tiger Stadium
. LSU upset the Gators, 28–21, on October 11, making the cover of Sports Illustrated
. The next week LSU lost to unranked Ole Miss. LSU's only other loss of the season was to unranked Notre Dame
on November 15, which the Tigers avenged by beating the Fighting Irish, 27–9, in a rematch in the Independence Bowl. LSU finished the season ranked #13.
In 1998, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #9. They climbed to #6 before losing to #12 Georgia on October 3. The next week the #11-ranked Tigers lost to the #6 Florida. After the defeat by the Gators, LSU dropped 13 of the next 17 games, including losses to a #10 Notre Dame and #13 Arkansas later in the 1998 season. In 1999 LSU lost to #10 Georgia, #8 Florida, #12 Mississippi State
, #25 Ole Miss, and #12 Alabama
.
On November 15, 1999, two days after the Tigers lost to unranked Houston
at home, LSU chancellor Mark Emmert
fired DiNardo with one game remaining in the season. DiNardo was given the option to coach the final game of the season against Arkansas, but DiNardo declined. Instead, offensive line coach Hal Hunter
was named interim coach, leading LSU to a 35–10 victory over the Razorbacks.
Nick Saban
was named as DiNardo's replacement on November 30. Saban guided the Tigers to a Southeastern Conference title in 2001.
in 2001. He was the coach of the Birmingham Thunderbolts
. The league folded after one season.
in 2002. He was largely unsuccessful in the Big Ten Conference
, never winning more than three games in a season, and was fired after the 2004 season.
analyst for ESPN Radio
, ESPNews
, and can be heard weekly as part of the College GameDay
crew along with Dave Revsine
and Todd McShay
. DiNardo currently works as an analyst for the new Big Ten Network and college football expert for WSCR
's Boers and Bernstein
radio show in Chicago.
, New York
. He is the youngest son of Pasquale Richard DiNardo and Maria Inez DiNardo, and has three brothers, John, Robert, and Lawrence. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Terri. He has two children, Kate and Michael.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as a guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
where he was selected as an All-American in 1974
1974 College Football All-America Team
The 1974 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
. DiNardo served as the head football coach at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
(1991–1994), Louisiana State University
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
(1995–1999), and Indiana University (2002–2004), compiling a career college football record of 59–76–1. In 2001, he was the head coach of the Birmingham Thunderbolts
Birmingham Thunderbolts
The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts...
of the XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
.
Playing career
DiNardo went to college at the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where he played guard from 1972 to 1974 for coach Ara Parseghian
Ara Parseghian
Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6...
. DiNardo was a member of the school's 1973 national championship team
1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1973 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1973 college football season. The Irish, coached by Ara Parseghian, ended the season undefeated with 11 wins and no losses, winning the national championship...
, and an All-American in 1974. Incidentally, DiNardo honed his blocking skills against Rudy Ruettiger, a member of the scout team during DiNardo's time at Notre Dame. DiNardo's older brother, Larry, was also an All-American at Notre Dame from 1968–70.
Coaching career
DiNardo began his coaching career at the University of MaineUniversity of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in 1975. In 1982, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
under head coach Bill McCartney
Bill McCartney
William Paul McCartney is a former American football player and coach and the founder of the Promise Keepers men's ministry. He was the head coach at the University of Colorado from 1982 to 1994, where he compiled a record of 93–55–5 and won three consecutive Big Eight Conference...
. DiNardo was the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
when Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes football
The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,...
won the national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
in 1990. The Buffaloes' offensive line coach from 1982 through 1986 was Les Miles
Les Miles
Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...
, who became LSU's head coach in 2005 and still holds that position.
Vanderbilt
In December 1990, DiNardo took the head coach job at Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, starting in the 1991 season. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Vanderbilt finished 3–8, 1–10, and 1–10. DiNardo took over and went 5–6, 4–7, 5–6, and 5–6 from 1991 to 1994. DiNardo's two biggest wins were when he led the Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
to victory over #17 Georgia on October 19, 1991 and #25 Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
on September 19, 1992.
LSU
After 1994, DiNardo left Vanderbilt and took the head coach position at LSULSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. He took over a program that had six straight losing seasons and that hadn't been ranked in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
since 1989. DiNardo improved LSU's fortunes, bringing back the tradition of wearing white jerseys during home games.
In his first season at LSU in 1995, the Tigers opened with a loss at #3 Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
on September 2, 1995. However, during LSU's first home game on September 16, 1995, DiNardo led LSU to a 12–6 upset victory over #5 Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
, a game which went down to the last play. Following the victory, LSU spent the next three weeks in the AP Poll before losing to #3 Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
on October 7, 1995. LSU's next losses were to unranked Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
on October 14, 1995 and #16 Alabama
1995 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 1995 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1995–96 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. The team played their home games at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Legion Field in...
on November 4, 1995. LSU finished the season by beating #14 Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
on November 18, 1995. The Tigers then went to the Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
, where they beat unranked Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
, 45–26, coached by Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
, who replaced DiNardo at LSU in 1999.
In 1996, LSU began the season with a preseason ranking of #19. After LSU defeated #14 Auburn, the Tigers lost to #1 Florida
1996 Florida Gators football team
The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's seventh season under head coach Steve Spurrier...
, and #10 Alabama
1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 1996 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 1996–97 college football season, competing in the Western Division in the Southeastern Conference. Gene Stallings led the Crimson Tide to a 10–3 record in his final year with the program...
, finishing the regular season at 9–2. LSU went to the Peach Bowl where they beat unranked Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, by a score of 10–7. LSU finished the season ranked #12.
In 1997, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #10. After losing to #12 Auburn, LSU faced off against #1 Florida at Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium (LSU)
Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is best known as the home stadium of the Louisiana State University football team.Tiger Stadium opened with a capacity of 12,000 in 1924...
. LSU upset the Gators, 28–21, on October 11, making the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. The next week LSU lost to unranked Ole Miss. LSU's only other loss of the season was to unranked Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
on November 15, which the Tigers avenged by beating the Fighting Irish, 27–9, in a rematch in the Independence Bowl. LSU finished the season ranked #13.
In 1998, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #9. They climbed to #6 before losing to #12 Georgia on October 3. The next week the #11-ranked Tigers lost to the #6 Florida. After the defeat by the Gators, LSU dropped 13 of the next 17 games, including losses to a #10 Notre Dame and #13 Arkansas later in the 1998 season. In 1999 LSU lost to #10 Georgia, #8 Florida, #12 Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs football
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124...
, #25 Ole Miss, and #12 Alabama
1999 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 1999 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1999 college football season. The team was led by head coach Mike DuBose, who was in his third season with the program...
.
On November 15, 1999, two days after the Tigers lost to unranked Houston
Houston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
at home, LSU chancellor Mark Emmert
Mark Emmert
Mark A. Emmert, Ph.D., was named president of the NCAA on April 27, 2010. He is the fifth CEO of the NCAA; he assumed his duties on 1 November 2010. Emmert was previously the 30th president of the University of Washington, his alma mater, taking office in June 2004, becoming the first alumnus in...
fired DiNardo with one game remaining in the season. DiNardo was given the option to coach the final game of the season against Arkansas, but DiNardo declined. Instead, offensive line coach Hal Hunter
Hal Hunter
Harold T. Hunter is the current offensive line coach of the San Diego Chargers of the NFL. He has held positions at the University of North Carolina, Indiana University, and LSU. In 1999, he served as the head coach of LSU's football team for one game, a 35–10 win over rival Arkansas,...
was named interim coach, leading LSU to a 35–10 victory over the Razorbacks.
Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
was named as DiNardo's replacement on November 30. Saban guided the Tigers to a Southeastern Conference title in 2001.
XFL
DiNardo's next head coaching job was in the ill-fated XFLXFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
in 2001. He was the coach of the Birmingham Thunderbolts
Birmingham Thunderbolts
The Birmingham Thunderbolts were a short-lived springtime American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.-The only season:The Thunderbolts...
. The league folded after one season.
Indiana
After the XFL folded, DiNardo moved on to become head coach at Indiana UniversityIndiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 2002. He was largely unsuccessful in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, never winning more than three games in a season, and was fired after the 2004 season.
Post-coaching career
Starting in 2005, DiNardo worked as a college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
analyst for ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
, ESPNews
ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS , launched on November 1, 1996, is a 24-hour-a-day sports news television channel...
, and can be heard weekly as part of the College GameDay
ESPN Radio College GameDay
ESPN Radio College Gameday is a day-long talk radio show on ESPN Radio covering the day's college football games. It is heard every Saturday during the season from noon until 7 p.m. ET. Some programs originate from the ESPN studios in Bristol, Connecticut; others are on location from game sites,...
crew along with Dave Revsine
Dave Revsine
Dave Revsine , is an American sportscaster, and sports columnist and journalist who currently serves as the lead studio host for the Big Ten Network...
and Todd McShay
Todd McShay
Todd McShay is a football analyst.McShay is a native of Swampscott, Massachusetts and played quarterback for the Swampscott High School football team . In 1999, He graduated from the University of Richmond with a B.A. in leadership studies, and served as the backup quarterback before a back...
. DiNardo currently works as an analyst for the new Big Ten Network and college football expert for WSCR
WSCR
WSCR is a sports radio station in the Chicago, Illinois radio market. The station is owned by CBS Radio and transmits on 670 kHz on the AM dial. Its transmitter is located just off Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale, which is a western suburb of Chicago. It is known as "The Score," and has been on...
's Boers and Bernstein
Boers and Bernstein
Boers and Bernstein is an afternoon drive-time sports talk show on Chicago's WSCR hosted by former columnist Terry Boers and Dan Bernstein. The program airs weekday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. On days when the Chicago White Sox have a 7:10 start time, the program will often be extended half...
radio show in Chicago.
Family
Gerry DiNardo was born in Howard Beach, QueensHoward Beach, Queens
Howard Beach is a suburban neighborhood in the southwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bordered in the north by the Belt Parkway and South Conduit Avenue in Ozone Park, the south by Jamaica Bay in Broad Channel, the east by 102nd-104th streets, and the west by 78th...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is the youngest son of Pasquale Richard DiNardo and Maria Inez DiNardo, and has three brothers, John, Robert, and Lawrence. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Terri. He has two children, Kate and Michael.