Larry McDaniel

Class:
Redshirt

Larry McDaniel is in his seventh season with the Kent State University football program. Beginning this past spring, he works with the interior defensive linemen, leaning on his experience mentoring the defensive line in 2003 and the defensive ends in 2007.

He previously served as co-special teams coordinator in 2005 and 2007-08, in addition to coaching the linebackers from 2004-06 and in 2008.

In 2005, McDaniel helped to guide punter Josh Brazen to a phenomenal year. Brazen ranked 26th in the nation in punting, averaging 42.45 yards per kick with 2,844 total yards.

Prior to coming to Kent, McDaniel spent four years in a similar position at Ball State University. He coached the defensive tackles in his first two seasons at Ball State, then assumed responsibility for the entire defensive line the last two years. The Cardinals were Mid-American Conference West Division tri-champions for the 2001 season.

Before joining the BSU staff, McDaniel was an assistant coach for one season (1998) at Southwest Missouri State University, where he tutored the tight ends and was the assistant recruiting coordinator. He was a graduate assistant coach at Indiana University during the 1997 season after serving as an assistant strength coach at the school the previous summer.

A native of St. Louis, McDaniel earned four letters as a nose tackle at Indiana from 1989-92 and was one of three captains his senior season. As a sophomore, he led the team with five quarterback sacks.

McDaniel graduated from Indiana in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in management and currently is pursuing a master's degree from the school in kinesiology. He was in private business for four years before joining the coaching ranks at his alma mater.

He and his wife, Arlena, have two daughters, Lauren Marie and Shelby Arlene, and a son, Mac. They reside in Stow.