Mike Dawson

Before Nebraska

New York Giants: Dawson spent the 2019 season coaching the outside linebackers for the New York Giants. Dawson helped Markus Golden have a career year in his fifth year in the league, as Golden totaled a career-high 68 tackles. Golden also had 10.0 sacks – the second-highest total of his career – and scored the first defensive touchdown of his career. Dawson also helped Oshane Ximines record 4.5 sacks in his rookie season.

UCF: Dawson spent two seasons at UCF in 2016 and 2017, helping defensive coordinator Erik Chinander turn around the Knights’ defense. UCF improved by more than 12 points per game in scoring defense during Dawson’s tenure, and the defense helped out the offense by forcing 58 turnovers and scoring nine defensive touchdowns in his two seasons. UCF ranked third nationally in turnovers forced in Dawson’s two seasons at the school, and his defensive line played a key role in that area by helping the Knights recover 23 fumbles.

In 2017, Dawson’s defensive line helped UCF post the first perfect season in program history and in the history of the American Athletic Conference when UCF finished 13-0 as the nation’s only undefeated team. The Knights ranked third in the league in scoring defense and fourth in rushing defense. Two of his three starting defensive linemen earned all-conference accolades, including Jamiyus Pittman, a member of the Outland Trophy watch list who was an All-AAC performer for the second straight season.

In Dawson’s first season at UCF in 2016, the Knights ranked in the top 10 nationally in four defensive categories and in the top 25 in nine categories. Dawson’s defensive line played a major role in UCF ranking second nationally in red zone defense, sixth in third-down defense, ninth in tackles for loss, 17th in sacks, 18th in turnovers forced and 24th in fumbles recovered. The defense was the key to UCF leading the nation with a six-win improvement from the 2015 to 2016 season.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Dawson was hired at UCF after spending three seasons on Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles staff. Dawson served as a defensive quality control coach in 2013, when the Eagles won the NFC East and ranked third in the NFL with 31 takeaways. He spent the next two seasons as an assistant defensive line coach. In 2014, Dawson helped Philadelphia rank second in the NFL in sacks (49) and fifth in opponent yards per carry (3.7).

BOSTON COLLEGE: Dawson was Boston College’s special teams coach for three seasons from 2009 to 2011. In his first year, kicker Steve Aponavicius set school records for career points, extra points made and field-goal percentage. In his second season with the Eagles, kicker Nate Freese was 22-of-25 on field goals, and he went on to break Aponavicius’ career scoring record. Dawson also coached punter Ryan Quigley, who went on to play six seasons in the NFL.

AKRON: In his first full-time job at the FBS level, Dawson coached the Akron linebackers for three seasons from 2006 to 2008. With the Zips he tutored all-conference linebacker Brion Stokes, who ended his career with 38.5 tackles for loss, the second-most in school history.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Dawson came to Akron following a six-year stint at New Hampshire from 2000 to 2005. He held three different positions with the Wildcats, coaching the linebackers in 2000 and 2002-03, the offensive line in 2001 and serving as defensive coordinator in 2004 and 2005. In his two seasons leading the defense, New Hampshire posted a 21-5 record and reached the 2005 FCS quarterfinals, when the Wildcats led the country with 45 takeaways.

PITTSBURGH, MAINE AND UMASS-LOWELL: Dawson’s first coaching stint in the FBS rank came as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 1998. Dawson began his coaching career as the defensive line coach in the spring of 1998 for UMass-Lowell before he joined Maine as a defensive assistant for the 1998 season.

Playing Career (UMASS)

Dawson was a three-year starter at linebacker and defensive end from 1995 to 1997 at UMass-Amherst. He served as team captain as a senior in 1997.

Personal

Coaching Career