SALISBURY- Lower Shore football enthusiasts still undecided about which team to root for in the Super Bowl next weekend might want to consider the connection Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn has to nearby Salisbury University.
Quinn, a former football standout and Salisbury University Athletics Hall of Fame member, was named the head coach of the Atlantic Falcons in 2015 and in two short years has elevated the team to the threshold of the National Football League (NFL) champion. Quinn will lead his charges against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl next Sunday.
Since his graduation from then-Salisbury State University, Quinn has quickly risen through the coaching ranks in both college and the NFL. Quinn served as defensive coordinator for the University of Florida and was hired in the same capacity for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. As defensive coordinator for the Seahawks, Quinn went to the Super Bowl twice and won once as his defense put on an incredible show against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in a 43-8 win in 2014. The following offseason, Quinn was hired as the head coach in Atlanta and in two years has led the Falcons to professional football’s summit.
Quinn was a feared defensive lineman for Salisbury University’s maroon and gold from 1989 to 1993 when he recorded 145 tackles. Quinn saw significant playing time as a freshman, but an injury in his sophomore season limited his participation to just one game. However, he played in every one of the Seagull’s games in his final three seasons, recording 135 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.
Quinn was a two-sport start at Salisbury and also excelled at track and field. He participated in field events and broke the school record in the hammer throw, a record that stood until 2012. Quinn’s climb through the coaching ranks after leaving Salisbury helped to build the football program’s reputation of producing quality players and graduates and his rapid descent to the Super Bowl as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons next week only enhances the school’s status.