John Dunn (American football)
John Dunn is an American football coach and former player. Dunn is currently the Tight Ends Coach for the New York Jets. He is the former offensive coordinator at the University of Connecticut. From 2011 to 2015, he was the Tight Ends coach and Recruiting Coordinator for current UConn head coach Randy Edsall at the University of Maryland. Dunn has also had stops with the Chicago Bears, LSU, and North Carolina.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Tight Ends Coach |
| Team | New York Jets |
| Conference | AFC |
| Playing career | |
| 2001–2003 | North Carolina |
| Position(s) | Quarterback/Tight end |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2004 | North Carolina (SA) |
| 2005 | North Carolina (OQC) |
| 2006-2007 | North Carolina (GA) |
| 2008-2010 | LSU (GA) |
| 2011–2015 | Maryland (TE) |
| 2016 | Chicago Bears (OQC) |
| 2017 | Chicago Bears (Offensive Assistant) |
| 2018 | Connecticut (AHC/OC/QB) |
| 2019-Present | New York Jets (TE) |
Coaching career
After Dunn’s playing career at North Carolina was cut short due to injury, he stayed involved with the program, and the game, as a student assistant as he finished his ungraduated studies in 2004. The next year, in 2005, he served in an offensive quality control role. Dunn then served as an offensive graduate assistant for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.[1]
From 2008 to 2010, Dunn served as an offensive graduate assistant for the LSU football team. He worked with offensive line and quarterbacks during his time there.[1]
In 2011, Randy Edsall was hired as the new head coach at Maryland. Edsall hired Dunn as his tight ends coach. Dunn also served as the recruiting coordinator. Dunn was instrumental in Maryland signing two top 35 signing classes in the staffs final three years.[1]
In 2016, Dunn joined the Chicago Bears organization. In his first year, he served as an offensive quality control assistant, and in 2017 he was promoted to an offensive assistant. During his time with the Bears, Dunn assisted with the quarterbacks and wide receivers, as well as self scouting and pass protection game planning.[1]
In December 2017, Dunn was announced as the new associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback coach at UConn, re-uniting him with Head coach Randy Edsall.[2] Dunn was originally on a two year contract, earning $300,000 per year.[2][3] After the 2018 season, Randy Edsall took a $150,000 pay cut, in order to give Dunn a $150,000 pay raise.[4]
On February 8, 2019, Footballscoop.com reported that Dunn was leaving UConn to rejoin new Jets head coach, Adam Gase.
Playing career
Dunn was a walk-on quarterback at North Carolina before moving to tight end. He played from 2001-2003 and lettered in 2003, before a neck injury ended his playing career.[2]
Personal life
Dunn and his wife, Lindsay, have two children, Carter and Emerson.[2]
References
- "John Dunn". uconnhuskies.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- Schonvisky, Matt. "Who Is John Dunn? Rising NFL Assistant Named Huskies New Offensive Coordinator". thisisuconncountry.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- Berkowitz, Steve. "2018 NCAAF Assistant Coaches Salaries". USA Today. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- Anthony, Mike (January 17, 2019). "Mike Anthony: UConn Football OC John Dunn Is Getting a Raise With His Promotion and It's Coming Out of Randy Edsall's Pocket". Hartford Courant. Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 17, 2019.