It took Dave Dunn just three years to return Catholic University to its winning ways. Taking over a program that had won just two games the previous two seasons, Dunn last year led CUA to a 9-2 record and its first postseason victory in 73 years.

"Dave's success is not surprising," said Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks Coach Ken Zampese, with whom Dunn played at the University of San Diego (USD). "He is an excellent talent evaluator who knows how to get his players to perform at the top of their ability. I foresee continued success for the Cardinals."

Dunn, entering his fourth season at CUA and 20^th overall, showed promise of his coaching ability early by winning his first two games with the Cardinals. His 2006 club won three times before going 5-5 in 2007. Everything came together for CUA last season.

The Cardinals were aiming for their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship in nine years before losing their final regular-season game. But based on their performance throughout the year, CUA was invited to play at 8-2 Johns Hopkins University in the ECAC Southeast Bowl. The Cards' 18-17 victory was the program's first postseason triumph since it captured the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1936.

CUA finished in a four-way tie for first place in the ODAC with a 4-2 record. Thirteen Cardinals were named All-Conference, including six on the first team. Senior defensive back Nick Olivero was named ODAC Defensive Player of the Year, and quarterback Keith Ricca Offensive Player of the Year.

Olivero garnered ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year honors and won the Harris Cup, CUA's most prestigious award for male senior athletes. He was also named All-Region by D3football.com and honorable mention All-American. Ricca joined him on the All-Region team.

Dunn, hired in January 2006, is 17-14 overall (.548) with the Cards. He is the program's eighth varsity head coach since it joined Division III in 1977 and its 23^rd overall.

Building His Coaching Resume

Dunn began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1990 when he served as USD's defensive line coach under head coach Brian Fogarty. In the springs of 1991-92, he played professionally and was head coach of the Graz Giants in Austria. Dunn played running back, defensive end and occasionally quarterback and led the team to a 16-4 record.

In the fall of 1992, Dunn coached outside linebackers at Indiana State University. One of his players, Dan Brandenburg, was a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1996 and played three years for the Bills.

From 1993-96, Dunn guided Masuk High School of Monroe, Conn., to a 29-12 record, including 1995 and '96 South West Conference Colonial Division championships. The 1996 squad a Class L state semifinalist.

Dunn returned to the college ranks for the following two seasons as defensive line and strength coach at Harvard University, where he helped produce six All-Ivy League linemen. The 1997 club ranked second in the nation in scoring defense, went 9-1 and captured the Ivy League championship.

Dunn's prized defensive lineman, Tim Fleiszer, was the first player chosen in the 1998 Canadian Football League draft by the Montreal Alouettes. Dunn also coached Mike Sands, who played for the Rhein (Germany) Fire in NFL Europe, and Chris Nowinski, a former World Wrestling Entertainment performer who is now a leading expert on sports concussions.

In 1999-2000, Dunn coached Miami's Christopher Columbus High School and led the Explorers to a 17-4 record and two district titles. He was head coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton, Fla., the next two seasons. His eight-year high school record is 56-26 (.683).

Dunn's work at John Paul II caught the attention of legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger, who hired him to coach running backs and special teams at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Dunn joined the Owls just prior to the start of spring practice in 2003 and helped the third-year program go 11-3, win 10 straight and reach the NCAA Division 1-AA national semifinals.

Dunn remained at FAU through the first three games of the 2004 season - all victories - until resigning to become the first head coach at Becker College in Worcester, Mass. He recruited 90 student-athletes in just nine months and came to CUA after the 2005 season.

Playing Career

Dunn played linebacker and tight end at Stamford (Conn.) Catholic High School - now Trinity Catholic - and helped the team go 9-2 as a senior (1983) and advance to the state championship game. He graduated in 1984 and was an assistant coach there in 1991.

While working summer basketball camps at the University of San Diego, Dunn became enamored with the Roman Catholic institution overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He played nose guard for USD and was a team captain his junior and senior years. He was named All-California and Torero's Defensive Player of the Year his final season (1989). The school records he established for sacks in a game (4), season (12) and career (19) stood for 18 years. He graduated in 1989 with a degree in business administration.

Kevin McGarry, who served as USD's defensive coordinator when Dunn played and coached there, has two sons (Timbo, Mike) in the CUA program.  McGarry is now a defensive assistant coach at San Diego State University.

Personal

A native of Detroit, Dunn was born on Oct. 15, 1965 to Bob and Nancy Dunn. His family moved to Trumbull, Conn., in 1975. He lives in Arlington, Va., and has a son, Jack, 9.

Brian Zyglocke begins his third season as the defensive coordinator for the Cardinals.  Since joining the staff at CUA Zyglocke's defense has seen 6 players receive All Conference recognition and Nick Olivero recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year for 2008.  Last year CUA's defense finished 11th in the country in turnovers and 16th in sacks, while leading the ODAC in passing defense, pass efficiency defense, interceptions, and sacks .He joined the staff from McDaniel College where he worked for two seasons.  

Zyglocke was an inside linebacker and two-year starter at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Va.  His senior season he led the 12^th ranked defense in Division III.  Zyglocke graduated with a history degree and stayed on with the Panthers as the wide receivers coach and then inside linebackers coach until 2005.  In that time he coached four all-conference performers and one defensive player of the year, who also played in the 2004 Aztec Bowl. 

Zyglocke then went to McDaniel College where he led the Green Terror defensive backs for two seasons while getting his master's degree in sports administration.  At McDaniel his many roles included the secondary's game plan, scouting, breaking down film and recruiting efforts.  In his time at McDaniel he coached 2 all conference performers. 

Zyglocke received his master's from McDaniel in May of 2007.  He resides with his wife Kasey in Arlington, Va. 

 

Bringing a wide variety of coaching experience to the staff, Kevin Moore begins his third season as the tight ends coach for the Cardinals.  He joined the staff from Stillman College where he worked for two seasons as the offensive line coach.

Moore has coached at numerous collegiate levels.  Institutions include Mississippi Valley, Prairie View A&M, Louisiana Tech, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Iowa Wesleyan, and Belhaven College. He has worked for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe and has done NFL coaching internships with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Moore holds teacher certification from Southern University (LA) and degrees from Emporia State University (KS).

 

Kevin Barger begins his second season as the defensive line coach and special team's coordinator for the Cardinals. He joins the staff from Ursinus College where he worked for four seasons also as the defensive line coach, special teams coordinator, and strength and conditioning coach. In those seasons, Barger's special teams were ranked amongst the best in division III finishing 2006 4th in the nation in kickoff return yardage, and 2nd in the same category in 2007.

Prior to Ursinus, Barger worked for three seasons at division 1-AA Marist College. He coached the outside linebackers from 2001 to 2002 while earning his master's in educational psychology. In three seasons, Barger produced one All-American, one Academic All-American, three All-Conference players, and three Academic All-Conference student athletes.

Barger was a 4 year starter and 2 time all conference defensive tackle at the University of Rochester in Rochester New York. He received his B.A. in history in 2001. He resides in Arlington Va.

Cole begins his second season on the Cardinal staff as the inside linebackers coach after playing for Buffalo University in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Cole was named Team Captain by the players and coaches during the 2000 season and was nominated for Defensive Player of the week and All MAC during his tenure at Buffalo.

Cole originally from Buffalo, NY has a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the University at Buffalo and currently is a Community Analyst for Community Preservation and Development Corporation a Non- Profit Affordable Housing Developer in Washington, DC. 

Cole will work primarily with the inside linebackers. He currently lives in Washington, DC.

Marvin Graves joined the Cardinal staff in 2008 as the quarterbacks coach, bringing years of experience to the quarterback position.  The local product and graduate of Archbishop Carroll High School attended Syracuse University where he was a record-setting quarterback for the Orange.  He started all four seasons after red shirting his freshman year and was a three-time bowl game MVP.  As a junior, he ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency, was the Davey O'Brien Award (national quarterback of the year) runner-up and a Heisman Trophy candidate.

After graduating with his degree in child and family studies, Graves was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.  He played eight seasons in the CFL before returning to Washington, D.C., to coach at a number of area high schools and run quarterback clinics.

Graves and his wife, Nicole, reside in Washington, D.C., with their four daughters.

Glenn Harvey enters his fourth season on the CUA staff, this year as the outside linebacker coach. He also assists with video coordinating for the Cardinals.

Harvey played defensive end throughout his four-year career at Catholic University. Harvey started for the Cardinals defensive line in 2005, and graduated from Catholic University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in history. He now teaches at Holy Redeemer Elementary in Kensington, Md.

 

Keith Howard enters his second season at CUA as the inside receivers coach.  Howard comes to CUA with two decades of coaching experience beginning as a student assistantant at the University of Pittsburgh under then head coach and current ESPN college football analyst Mike Gottfried.  From there, Howard coached various positions at Bishop McNamara and Northwestern High Schools.  In 2003, he took over as Head Football Coach at Crossland High School.

Howard took Crossland from last place in the state to an historic coin toss for the playoffs in just four seasons.  Currently, heis also the head football coach of the DC Divas of the Independent Women's Football League.  In his inaugural season Howard lead the Divas to an undefeated season and an Eastern Conference Championship.

Howard leads a national non-profit called Team Focus which mentors young males who do not have a father figure in their lives. He currently resides in Upper Marlboro MD.

Josh Pruitt joins the CUA staff after a three year stint at his Alma Mater, Troy University (Ala.). Pruitt worked as a Tight End Coach and Offensive Line Graduate Assistant, and helped lead the squad to four consecutive Sun Belt Championships in from 2006-2009. His teams also advanced to the New Orleans Bowl in both 2006 and 2008, as well as the GMAC Bowl in 2009. Pruitt also acted as the Junior Varsity Head Coach, conducting all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the team.

After playing two years at Garden City Community College, Pruitt was a member of the Troy University squad for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. The Ellsworth, Kan., native earned Academic Honor Roll status in his junior and senior years, and graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He also earned his Masters degree in Criminal Justice. Pruitt currently resides in Hyattsville, Md.