Coach Dan McCarney
Head Coach:
University of North Texas (2010-2015)
Iowa State University (1995-2006)
Assistant Coach:
University of Florida (2008-2010)
University of South Florida (2007-2008)
University of Wisconsin (1990-1994)
University of Iowa (1979-1989)
Dan McCarney began his football career at Iowa City High School, in Iowa City, Iowa. At City High, McCarney lettered in football, wrestling, and track. In 1971, the Little Hawks were 1971 conference champions, while McCarney earned all-state honors. McCarney then went on to play football at Iowa, where he lettered in three seasons, and went on to the NFL with stints with the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos. He returned to Iowa in 1977 and became a graduate assistant under Bob Cummings. The next year, working with coach Hayden Fry, McCarney became the Defensive Line coach for 10 years from 1979-1989. The Hawkeyes made two Rose Bowl appearances during that time. After the 1989 season, he was hired as the Defensive Coordinator and the Defensive Line Coach at Wisconsin, for coach Barry Alvarez. He coached at Wisconsin from 1990-1994, and won the 1993 Rose Bowl. McCarney then went on to become the head coach at Iowa State University from 1995-2006. He led Iowa State to its first bowl win in school history during the 2000 Insight.com Bowl. Iowa State went to a bowl game five times during his tenure, while only going to a bowl game three times in school history before McCarney was hired. He also has the Iowa State record for wins with 56. In 2007, he became the defensive line coach at South Florida, and a year later took the defensive line coach position at Florida, under head coach Urban Meyer. At Florida, they had great success, winning the 2008 national title and the 2009 Sugar Bowl. North Texas then hired McCarney in 2010, and he coached there until 2015. McCarney has four former staff members that are current or former head coaches. Current head coaches include Chris Ash at Rutgers and Jay Norvell at Nevada. Former head coaches include Charlie Partridge at Florida Atlantic and Paul Rhoads at Iowa State. McCarney is now retired.
Notable Accomplishments:
Head Coach NCAA:
Assistant Coach NCAA:
University of North Texas (2010-2015)
Iowa State University (1995-2006)
Assistant Coach:
University of Florida (2008-2010)
University of South Florida (2007-2008)
University of Wisconsin (1990-1994)
University of Iowa (1979-1989)
Dan McCarney began his football career at Iowa City High School, in Iowa City, Iowa. At City High, McCarney lettered in football, wrestling, and track. In 1971, the Little Hawks were 1971 conference champions, while McCarney earned all-state honors. McCarney then went on to play football at Iowa, where he lettered in three seasons, and went on to the NFL with stints with the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos. He returned to Iowa in 1977 and became a graduate assistant under Bob Cummings. The next year, working with coach Hayden Fry, McCarney became the Defensive Line coach for 10 years from 1979-1989. The Hawkeyes made two Rose Bowl appearances during that time. After the 1989 season, he was hired as the Defensive Coordinator and the Defensive Line Coach at Wisconsin, for coach Barry Alvarez. He coached at Wisconsin from 1990-1994, and won the 1993 Rose Bowl. McCarney then went on to become the head coach at Iowa State University from 1995-2006. He led Iowa State to its first bowl win in school history during the 2000 Insight.com Bowl. Iowa State went to a bowl game five times during his tenure, while only going to a bowl game three times in school history before McCarney was hired. He also has the Iowa State record for wins with 56. In 2007, he became the defensive line coach at South Florida, and a year later took the defensive line coach position at Florida, under head coach Urban Meyer. At Florida, they had great success, winning the 2008 national title and the 2009 Sugar Bowl. North Texas then hired McCarney in 2010, and he coached there until 2015. McCarney has four former staff members that are current or former head coaches. Current head coaches include Chris Ash at Rutgers and Jay Norvell at Nevada. Former head coaches include Charlie Partridge at Florida Atlantic and Paul Rhoads at Iowa State. McCarney is now retired.
Notable Accomplishments:
Head Coach NCAA:
- 56 wins at Iowa State (most by any head coach)
- Six Bowl appearances
- Three Bowl victories (2000 Insight, 2004 Independence, 2013 Heart of Dallas)
- Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame (2016 inductee)
Assistant Coach NCAA:
- Three Rose Bowl Appearances (1993 Rose Bowl Champion)
- 2009 Sugar Bowl Champion
- 2008 National Champion
photos courtesy of North Texas Athletics, Iowa State Athletics and UAA Communications.