Dan Dorazio

{{Short description|American gridiron football coach (1952–2024)}}

{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography

| name = Dan Dorazio

| image = Coach Dan Dorazio, June 22, 2019.jpg

| image_upright = 1

| caption = Dorazio with the Toronto Argonauts in 2019

| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|1|22|mf=y}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/abbotsford-bc/daniel-dorazio-11941310 |title=Daniel Joseph Dorazio |publisher=dignitymemorial.com |access-date=August 16, 2024}}

| birth_place = Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|8|13|1952|1|22}}

| death_place = Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

| college = Kent State

| high_school = Stow High

| coaching_years1 = 1972–1974

| coaching_team1 = Kent State
(Graduate Assistant)

| coaching_years2 = 1975–1977

| coaching_team2 = Hawaii

| coaching_years3 = 1978

| coaching_team3 = San Jose State

| coaching_years4 = 1979

| coaching_team4 = Washington

| coaching_years5 = 1980–1981

| coaching_team5 = Northern Iowa

| coaching_years6 = 1982–1983

| coaching_team6 = Georgia Tech

| coaching_years7 = 1984–1988

| coaching_team7 = Washington

| coaching_years8 = 1989–1991

| coaching_team8 = Holy Cross

| coaching_years9 = 1992–1996

| coaching_team9 = Maryland

| coaching_years10 = 1997

| coaching_team10 = Boston

| coaching_years11 = {{CFL Year|1998|2002}}

| coaching_team11 = Calgary Stampeders
(Offensive line coach)

| coaching_years12 = {{CFL Year|2003|2014}}

| coaching_team12 = BC Lions
(Offensive line coach)

| coaching_years13 = {{CFL Year|2015}}

| coaching_team13 = Saskatchewan Roughriders
(Offensive line coach)

| coaching_years14 = {{CFL Year|2016|2018}}

| coaching_team14 = BC Lions
(Offensive line coach)

| coaching_years15 = {{CFL Year|2019}}

| coaching_team15 = Toronto Argonauts
(Offensive line coach)

| coaching_years16 = 2020

| coaching_team16 = UBC
(Offensive line coach)

| coaching_years17 = 2020

| coaching_team17 = Simon Fraser
(Co-offensive coordinator, offensive line coach)

| coaching_years18 = 2023

| coaching_team18 = UBC
(Offensive line coach)

| career_highlights =

4× Grey Cup champion (1998, 2001, 2006, 2011)

}}

Daniel Joseph Dorazio (January 22, 1952 – August 13, 2024) was an American professional football coach who coached for 26 years in the NCAA, 22 years in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and for one year in U Sports. He was a four-time Grey Cup champion after winning with the Calgary Stampeders in 1998 and 2001 and with the BC Lions in 2006 and 2011. Under his direction as an offensive line coach, he had four players win the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award.

Early life and education

Dorazio was born to parents Joseph and Helen Dorazio in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Pittsburgh. When he was a teenager, his family moved to Stow, Ohio, where he attended Stow High School. He then attended Kent State University, where he played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes as a running back.{{Cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/back-where-he-belongs-don-dorazio-still-lion-king-coaching-players-twice-his-size |title=Iain MacIntyre: Back where he belongs, Dorazio still Lion king coaching players twice his size |publisher=Vancouver Sun |date=June 6, 2016}}

Coaching career

=NCAA=

Dorazio began his coaching career as a graduate assistant on the Kent State Golden Flashes staff and was assigned to the offensive line by head coach Don James. He then spent time with the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors from 1975 to 1977, the San Jose State Spartans in 1978, the Washington Huskies in 1979, the Northern Iowa Panthers from 1980 to 1981, and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1982 to 1983.

Dorazio spent a large part of his NCAA coaching career with the Huskies, and joined the team in 1982, reuniting him with head coach James.{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/college/washington/football/ex-husky-offensive-line-coach-dan-dorazio-dies-at-72-01j5bet8cfmq |title=Ex-Husky Offensive Line Coach Dan Dorazio Dies at 72 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=August 16, 2024}} In 1984, Dorazio's offensive line scheme helped the fourth-ranked Huskies to a victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1985 Orange Bowl. His tenure with the Huskies came to an end after a disappointing 1988 season and he was fired by James.

Dorazio then coached for the Holy Cross Crusaders from 1989 to 1991, the Maryland Terrapins from 1992 to 1996, and the Boston University Terriers in 1997.

=Calgary Stampeders=

After 26 years in college football, Dorazio was hired by Wally Buono of the Calgary Stampeders to serve as the team's offensive line coach in 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stampeders.com/2024/08/15/stamps-mourn-death-of-dan-dorazio/ |title=Stamps mourn death of Dan Dorazio |publisher=Calgary Stampeders |date=August 15, 2024}} In his first season, Fred Childress was named a CFL All-Star as well as the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the Stampeders won the 86th Grey Cup. After a loss in the 87th Grey Cup, Dorazio won his second championship in 2001 when the Stampeders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 89th Grey Cup. After a disappointing 2002 season, Buono resigned and Dorazio left the Stampeders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2024/08/14/lions-mourn-loss-of-legendary-coach-dan-dorazio/ |title=Lions mourn loss of legendary coach Dan Dorazio |publisher=BC Lions |date=August 14, 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cfl.ca/CFLNews0301/13_cal.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030618094658/http://www.cfl.ca/CFLNews0301/13_cal.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2003 |title=Buono era ends in Calgary |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=January 13, 2003}}

=BC Lions (first stint)=

After Buono was hired as the head coach of the BC Lions, Dorazio joined his coaching staff as the team's offensive line coach for the 2003 season. Under his tutelage, Rob Murphy won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 2005 and 2006 and Dorazio won his third Grey Cup championship following the Lions' victory in the 94th Grey Cup. He won his fourth title in 2011 with the 99th Grey Cup win, and Jovan Olafioye won the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 2012. Upon the hiring of Jeff Tedford for the 2015 season, Dorazio was not retained on the coaching staff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2015/01/22/tedford-names-lions-coaching-staff/ |title=Tedford names Lions coaching staff |publisher=BC Lions |date=January 22, 2015}}

=Saskatchewan Roughriders=

On February 2, 2015, it was announced that Dorazio had joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Corey Chamblin's staff as the team's offensive line coach, reuniting him with former BC Lions offensive coordinator, Jacques Chapdelaine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riderville.com/2015/02/02/riders-announce-coaching-staff/ |title=Riders Announce Coaching Staff |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=February 2, 2015}} The Roughriders finished with a league-worst 3–15 record and the entire coaching staff was dismissed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riderville.com/2015/12/16/riders-announce-coaching-staff-2/ |title=Riders Announce Coaching Staff |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=December 16, 2015}}

=BC Lions (second stint)=

After Tedford resigned as the Lions' head coach and Buono returned as head coach, Dorazio was hired back to his coaching staff for the 2016 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2016/04/19/dorazio-excited-to-be-back-in-den/ |title=Damn Daniel! Back at it again with the Lions |date=April 19, 2016 |publisher=Montreal Alouettes |access-date=July 7, 2024}} He spent three seasons in his second stint as the Lions' offensive line coach. He was not retained for the 2019 season by the team's new head coach, DeVone Claybrooks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oakbaynews.com/sports/lions-announce-seven-members-of-coaching-staff-not-coming-back-for-2019-476589 |title=Lions announce seven members of coaching staff not coming back for 2019 |publisher=Oak Bay News |date=December 13, 2018}}

=Toronto Argonauts=

On February 7, 2019, it was announced that Dorazio had joined the Toronto Argonauts as the team's offensive line coach, with Chapdelaine and Chamblin also serving on the team's coaching staff, the latter as head coach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.argonauts.ca/2019/02/07/argos-announce-2019-coaching-staff/ |title=Argos unveil 2019 coaching staff |publisher=Toronto Argonauts |date=February 7, 2019}} After a disappointing season for the team, Chamblin was fired and replaced by Ryan Dinwiddie,{{cite news |title=Argos dismiss Chamblin; name Dinwiddie head coach |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/12/12/report-argos-part-ways-corey-chamblin/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=CFL.ca |date=December 12, 2019 |language=en}} who subsequently hired Stephen McAdoo as the new offensive line coach to replace Dorazio for 2020.{{cite news |title=Argos announce 2020 Coaching Staff |url=https://www.argonauts.ca/2020/02/06/argos-announce-2020-coaching-staff/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Toronto Argonauts |date=February 6, 2020 |language=en}}

=Canadian university football=

Dorazio was hired as the offensive line coach for the UBC Thunderbirds, but only spent spring training with the team as the 2020 U Sports football season was cancelled.{{Cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/05/03/detroit-lions-fourth-round-draft-pick-giovanni-manu-nfl-college-coach/73531892007/ |title=No one came close to challenging Lions OL Giovanni Manu |publisher=Detroit Free Press |date=May 3, 2024}} He was then hired by Simon Fraser on August 29, 2020, by interim head coach Mike Rigell, to serve as the team's offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator.{{Cite web|url=https://athletics.sfu.ca/news/2020/8/29/football-dorazio-brings-his-nearly-50-years-of-experience-to-simon-fraser-university |title=Dorazio brings his nearly 50 Years of Experience to Simon Fraser University |publisher=Simon Fraser Red Leafs |date=August 29, 2020}} However, their 2020 season was also cancelled and he did not coach for Simon Fraser.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2023/03/22/ubc-thunderbirds-add-former-saskatchewan-qb-mason-nyhus-legendary-cfl-ol-guru-dan-dorazio-to-coaching-staff/ |title=UBC Thunderbirds add former Saskatchewan QB Mason Nyhus, legendary CFL OL guru Dan Dorazio to coaching staff |publisher=UBC Thunderbirds |date=March 22, 2023}}

On March 22, 2023, it was announced that Dorazio had re-joined the Thunderbirds as their offensive line coach. In 2023, offensive linemen Theo Benedet and Giovanni Manu were named to U Sports All-Canadian teams with the former winning the J. P. Metras Trophy and the latter being selected in the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web|url=https://usports.ca/en/awards/news/2023/11/1319968847/montreal-s-jonathan-senecal-wins-2023-hec-crighton-award |title=Montréal's Jonathan Sénécal wins 2023 Hec Crighton Award |publisher=U Sports |date=November 24, 2023}} The Thunderbirds also played in the 58th Vanier Cup that year, but lost to the Montreal Carabins.{{cite web|url=https://universitysport.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2023-24c/boxscores/20231125_9cy5.xml |title=Football boxscore |publisher=U Sports |date=November 25, 2023}}