SDSU FOOTBALL'S DANNY GONZALES NAMED DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

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Safeties coach has been with the Aztec staff since 2011

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

March 6, 2017 (San Diego) - Danny Gonzales, who has been the safeties coach with the San Diego State football team since 2011, helping the Aztecs to a league-high three Mountain West titles over that span, has been promoted to defensive coordinator by head coach Rocky Long.

Gonzales, who has spent each of his 14 years coaching with Long, helped SDSU lead the country in interceptions (26) in 2016, a year after San Diego State’s 23 picks ranked in a tie for second in the nation. The Aztecs’ 49 interceptions over the last two seasons are nine more than the next team (Utah, 40) and the most in a two-year span in FBS play since Boston College had 51 in the 2007 and 2008 campaigns.

Since Gonzales has coached the SDSU safeties in 2011, San Diego State’s 100 interceptions are the third most in the country, while its 14 interceptions returned for a touchdown are tied for the fifth most over that span.

Under his guidance, Gonzales has had two Aztecs make the all-Mountain West team three times apiece, including current New York Giant Nat Berhe (2011-13) and Malik Smith (2014-16). Smith and Berhe are the only two SDSU safeties to earn all-MW accolades three consecutive years. Berhe (fifth round) and Eric Pinkins (sixth round) were also each selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Prior to joining SDSU, Gonzales coached the safeties, punters, kickers and deep snappers at New Mexico from 2005-08 under Long. Gonzales coached numerous players to all-conference honors with the Lobos, including consensus All-America kicker John Sullivan and NFL draft picks Quincy Black and Glover Quin. Gonzales was also a graduate coach with UNM rom 1999-02.

Gonzales has coached in nine bowl games, including six straight while a member of the San Diego State staff (the Aztecs have been to seven consecutive bowl games altogether). He also coached in three bowl games while at New Mexico (2002, 2006 and 2007).

Gonzales was a three-year letterwinner with the Lobos as a safety and punter, earning the Chuck Cummings Memorial Award for morale and spirit as a senior. He helped the 1997 UNM squad win the Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division title and complete in the Insight.com Bowl, finishing with a 9-4 record (6-2 in league).


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