Ron Vanderlinden
Encyclopedia
Ron Vanderlinden is an American college football
coach. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
at Penn State University
. Vanderlinden previously served as the head coach at the University of Maryland
from 1997 to 2000.
at Albion College
and twice earned All-MIAA conference honors. He was part of the 1976 Albion Britons football team that achieved a perfect 9–0 record. Both the 1976 and 1977 teams have since been inducted into the Albion College Hall of Fame.
and also coached as a graduate assistant at Michigan
. His first full-time coaching position was with Ball State
in 1982. From 1983 to 1991, he was a defensive assistant at Colorado
under head coach Bill McCartney
. McCartney had also been an assistant at Michigan with Vanderlinden. During that timeframe, Colorado won the 1990 National Championship
. From 1992 to 1996, Vanderlinden served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator
at Northwestern
. There he played a part in the reversal of fortunes of a struggling football program into a two-time Big Ten
champion. On November 10, 2011 Tom Bradley
announced that Vanderlinden and DL Coach Larry Johnson
would serve as co-defensive coordinators.
Despite these setbacks, Maryland improved significantly during Vanderlinden's tenure, winning more games in 1999 than the previous two years combined. His staff also recruited players who would be instrumental in the team's meteoric rise in 2001
to an ACC championship, a Bowl Championship Series
game, and a top-ten final ranking. Some of these players included linebacker E.J. Henderson, quarterback Shaun Hill
, and wide receiver Guilian Gary
. Also during Vanderlinden's tenure, running back Lamont Jordan
set the school record for single-game rushing with 306 yards. Vanderlinden was fired after the 2000 season.
s coach for the Nittany Lions, Vanderlinden oversees the school's traditional "Linebacker U." He has help develop a linebacker unit that has included All-American
2005 Butkus
and 2005/2006 Bednarik
award winner Paul Posluszny
, a consensus All-America
n, 2003, All-Big Ten linebacker Gino Capone, and 2006 All-America
n and 2007 Bednarik Award winner Dan Connor.
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...
coach. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
Linebackers coach
A linebackers coach is a position coach in charge of the linebackers in gridiron football. This role is common in the CFL, NFL, and college football programs. The linebackers coach serves the defense, which is led by the defensive coordinator and works with the players of the three linebacker...
at Penn State University
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
. Vanderlinden previously served as the head coach at the University of Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
from 1997 to 2000.
College career
In college, he played football as a four-year starting centerCenter (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
at Albion College
Albion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
and twice earned All-MIAA conference honors. He was part of the 1976 Albion Britons football team that achieved a perfect 9–0 record. Both the 1976 and 1977 teams have since been inducted into the Albion College Hall of Fame.
Coaching career
In 1978, he started his career as a graduate assistant at Bowling GreenBowling Green Falcons football
The Bowling Green Falcons football team is the interscholastic football team at Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green competes as a member of the Mid-American Conference in the East Division. The Falcons have won ten conference championships....
and also coached as a graduate assistant at Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
. His first full-time coaching position was with Ball State
Ball State Cardinals football
The Ball State Cardinals football team represents Ball State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Mid-American Conference .-Recent history:...
in 1982. From 1983 to 1991, he was a defensive assistant at 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,...
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...
. McCartney had also been an assistant at Michigan with Vanderlinden. During that timeframe, Colorado won the 1990 National Championship
1990 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split championship and the ensuing controversy led to the creation of the Bowl Coalition, a precursor to the Bowl Championship Series. The title was split between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets...
. From 1992 to 1996, Vanderlinden served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
at Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
. There he played a part in the reversal of fortunes of a struggling football program into a two-time Big Ten
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...
champion. On November 10, 2011 Tom Bradley
Tom Bradley
Thomas or Tom Bradley is the name of:*Tom Bradley , mayor of Los Angeles, California*Tom Bradley , American novelist and essayist...
announced that Vanderlinden and DL Coach Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson is the name of:* Larry Johnson , American football running back* Larry Johnson , baseball player* Larry Johnson , American basketball player...
would serve as co-defensive coordinators.
Maryland
In 1997, he was hired as the head coach of the Maryland Terrapins, a team without a bowl game and only one winning season since 1990. In both the 1999 and 2000 seasons, Maryland narrowly missed achieving a winning season and bowl game bid by losing their finale and ended both years with a 5-6 record. Vanderlinden recorded a 15-29 record.Despite these setbacks, Maryland improved significantly during Vanderlinden's tenure, winning more games in 1999 than the previous two years combined. His staff also recruited players who would be instrumental in the team's meteoric rise in 2001
2001 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2001 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in its 49th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terps closed the regular season with a record of 10–1, with its only loss coming to Florida State. The Terps won the ACC Championship and were granted a Bowl...
to an ACC championship, a Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
game, and a top-ten final ranking. Some of these players included linebacker E.J. Henderson, quarterback Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
, and wide receiver Guilian Gary
Guilian Gary
Guilian Austin Gary is an American football coach and former player. He currently serves as the wide receivers coach for the Tigers football team at Towson University. He played college football at the University of Maryland, College Park where he was a star wide receiver...
. Also during Vanderlinden's tenure, running back Lamont Jordan
LaMont Jordan
LaMont Damon Jordan is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
set the school record for single-game rushing with 306 yards. Vanderlinden was fired after the 2000 season.
Penn State linebackers coach
As the current linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
s coach for the Nittany Lions, Vanderlinden oversees the school's traditional "Linebacker U." He has help develop a linebacker unit that has included All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
2005 Butkus
Dick Butkus Award
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
and 2005/2006 Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik Award
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive collegiate football player adjudged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in the United States...
award winner Paul Posluszny
Paul Posluszny
Paul Michael Posluszny , commonly known as "Poz", is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, a consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n, 2003, All-Big Ten linebacker Gino Capone, and 2006 All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n and 2007 Bednarik Award winner Dan Connor.