Dunn comes home to coach Vulcans
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
Gary Dunn, former offensive coordinator for the Duquesne University football team, was announced as the head football coach at California University of Pennsylvania, Friday afternoon.
Gary Dunn, former offensive coordinator for the Duquesne University football team and new head football coach of the California University of Pa., shakes hands with Interim University President Geraldine Jones.
Interim University President Geraldine Jones, left, applauds as Gary Dunn, former offensive coordinator for the Duquesne University football team, was announced as the head football coach at California University of Pennsylvania Friday afternoon.
CALIFORNIA — After nearly 20 years, Gary Dunn is coming home.
Dunn was named Friday as head football coach at California (Pa.) University, his alma mater and the place where he launched his coaching career.
Dunn replaced Mike Kellar, who left the Vulcans to become head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne about a month ago.
Most recently, Dunn has been the offensive coordinator at Duquesne for the last six seasons and served as offensive coordinator for 11 seasons of a 13-year stint at Morehead State. He was a graduate assistant at Cal in 1995-96 after playing center for the Vulcans the previous four years.
“It’s great to come home,” Dunn said at his introductory press conference Friday at the Natali Center. “It’s been a dream of mine to come back here and coach these guys.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Cal U community, part of California Borough and a part of the Mon Valley.”
Dunn survived an interview process that involved many layers. He praised the university for its thoroughness in seeking the right person for the job.
“We’re going to do this the right way,” said Dunn, who is not related to the former Steelers defensive tackle of the same name. “We want the right athletes and we want good students.”
Dunn played under former coach Jeff Petrucci and becomes the first former player to coach the Vulcans since Petrucci became coach in 1981.
Times have changed in college sports, however, since Petrucci’s days as coach. Recent Cal U players have arrest records longer than lists of football records. Dunn took the high road when asked how he can make it better.
“We have to recruit better people and then educate guys on good behavior,” Dunn said. “First and foremost, we have to recruit quality kids.”
Speaking of recruiting, Dunn said he will focus his efforts locally, then regionally and eventually hope to make inroads on the state level.
“It’s important to recruit the Mon Valley and maybe try to get a lot of good kids from the WPIAL,” Dunn said. “I would like to get kids right out of high school as recruits, but I also might go for a few kids out of junior colleges or other colleges to fill holes that may develop.”
Dunn met with current Vulcan football players Friday afternoon and has a few other meetings set for Monday, including sessions with two Cal assistant coaches, former Frazier coach Larry Wilson and former Commodore quarterback Chad Salisbury.
Wilson coached Cal’s wide receivers and tight ends and served as special teams coordinator under Kellar, while Salisbury was Kellar’s quarterbacks coach. They are the only remaining assistant coaches still under contract at Cal, so Dunn will meet with them about staying on board.
Dunn lives in Belle Vernon with his wife, Melissa, and their daughter, Sydney. Both Dunn and his wife are Cal U graduates.
Dunn was a four-year starter at center and earned a degree in political science in 1995. He also earned a master’s degree in geography and regional planning in 1997, just before leaving for Morehead State.