D'Onofrio wrapped up his time with the Badgers at the conclusion of the 2022 season, where he coached the inside linebackers for one season.
A former defensive coordinator at Temple, Miami and Houston, D’Onofrio has 19 years of experience as a college coach.
D’Onofrio’s coaching stops also include Georgia, Rutgers and Virginia. His last 12 seasons as a college coach, spanning his time at Temple, Miami and Houston, were spent as a defensive coordinator where he helped develop 20 NFL draft picks. At Temple, he transformed a defense that ranked last in the NCAA upon his arrival to 17th in 2010 and helped Temple become bowl eligible in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.
D’Onofrio followed head coach Al Golden to Miami where his prized pupil was linebacker Denzel Perryman, a Dick Butkus Award semifinalist in 2013 and 2014 and the first Hurricanes player since 2007 to earn AP All-America honors. A second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2015, Perryman ranked sixth in the league with 154 tackles this season and was voted to the Pro Bowl.
Among the other inside linebackers D’Onofrio has mentored during his career were Gary Brackett (Rutgers), a 9-year NFL veteran and starter on the Indianapolis Colts team that won Super Bowl XLI, Ahmad Brooks (Virginia), a first-team All-American in 2004 and two-time All-Pro during his 12-year NFL career, and Sean Spence (Miami), a first-team All-ACC choice in 2011 and six-year NFL veteran.
After his final season at Houston (2018), D’Onofrio continued to be active in football, working as a resource for a number of coaches at the high school, college and NFL levels.
D’Onofrio starred as a linebacker at Penn State from 1988-91 and was named team captain as a senior. He was selected in the second round (No. 34 overall pick) of the 1992 NFL Draft by Green Bay and earned a starting role at inside linebacker as a rookie before an injury prematurely ended his professional career.
D’Onofrio and his wife, Lucia, are the parents of sons Jack and Thomas.
D'Onofrio’s Coaching Career
1999: Linebackers, St. Peter's
2000: Defensive Assistant, Georgia
2001: Linebackers, Rutgers
2002-03: Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator, Rutgers
2004: Tight Ends/Special Teams, Virginia
2005: Inside Linebackers/Special Teams, Virginia
2008-09: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, Temple
2010: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Temple
2011-15: Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator, Miami
2017-18: Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers, Houston
2022-present: Inside Linebackers, Wisconsin
