Bowling Green State University Athletics
Two Former Falcons Among Three Additions To Football Staff
March 30, 2005 | Football
March 30, 2005
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University football coach Gregg Brandon has announced the addition of three native Ohioans to his coaching staff for the 2005 season, including two former Falcon standouts, D.J. Durkin and Mike Malone. Russ Kuhns, who played at Wisconsin, also is a newcomer to the BGSU staff. In addition, Troy Rothenbuhler will move from defensive ends to tight ends coach, and John Bowers will now coach the defensive backs after coaching the safeties in 2004.
Quoting Gregg Brandon
"We think these are outstanding additions to our staff. D.J. was a guy who I really wanted to bring on staff when I first took the head coaching job. He has really grown from his experience at Notre Dame and is one of the top young coaches at his position. Mike knows our defense inside and out and should be able to relate to and teach many of the young players we have on defense, especially in our secondary. Russ is a guy who made the most of his ability and played three seasons in the Big Ten and we like what he adds to our staff."
D.J. Durkin, Defensive Ends
Durkin, a native of Youngstown, returns to his alma mater after spending two years as an assistant at the University of Notre Dame. He assisted the staff in all aspects on defense with particular emphasis on working with the defensive ends, where he coached the school's all-time sack leader, Justin Tuck. Last year, the Fighting Irish played in the 2004 Insight.com Bowl. Durkin spent two seasons as a graduate assistant with the Falcons and coached the defensive ends. In 2002, the Falcons were 9-3 and were ranked in the top 20 of both major polls. In 2001, the Bowling Green defense was first in the conference in total defense, as well as four other major defensive categories. A four-year starter at defensive end and outside linebacker for the Falcons as a player, he was elected a two-year captain by his teammates. He started 33 games in his career and recorded 131 career tackles, including 28 for a loss, at defensive end and led the team in sacks in 1998 and finished second on the team in that category in 2000. He also received a number of awards during his career including the Ken Schoeni Award for character and toughness, the Carlos Jackson Award for personifying the values of a true student-athlete and the Leadership Award for displaying great leadership. He played three seasons at Boardman High School where he was an All-Conference and All-Northeast Ohio selection. Durkin earned a bachelor's degree in business marketing from Bowling Green in 2001, and earned his master's degree in educational administration and supervision, in May 2004. Born Jan. 15, 1978, Durkin and his wife, Sarah, reside in Bowling Green.
Mike Malone, Defensive Assistant
Malone, a native of Portsmouth, rejoins the Falcons as a coach after earning four letters for BGSU from 2000-2003. He was a member of the Falcons' 2003 MAC West Division and Motor City Bowl title squads and finished his career with 143 career tackles from his safety position in 24 starts. As a senior, he had 10 tackles against Ohio State and nine at Purdue. He also started nine games as a junior for the Falcons nationally ranked squad of 2002. Following his senior season, he was named the winner of the Carlos Jackson Award for personifying the values of a true student-athlete. He is a 1999 graduate of Portsmouth High School where he earned All-District honors after starting three seasons. He was born May 29, 1981. He holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice from BGSU.
Russ Kuhns, Offensive Assistant
Kuhns, a native of Bellevue, Ohio, begins his first year as a member of the Falcon coaching staff. He earned three letters at Wisconsin from 2000-2002 where he played linebacker and fullback during his career. He played on the Badgers' 2002 Alamo Bowl and 2000 Sun Bowl and 2000 Rose Bowl championship squads. and As a senior, he caught five passes for 53 yards and had two tackles, including a forced fumble on special teams for the Badgers. He appeared in 11 games in 2001 and was named Academic All-Big Ten. In 2000, he was a standout on special teams recording nine tackles. In 1999, he was named Scout Team Player of the Year during his redshirt season. He began his collegiate career at Findlay in 1998 before transferring to Wisconsin . A 1998 graduate of Bellevue High School, he was a three-time All-State honoree in football and wrestling for the Redmen, where he was team MVP in wrestling, football and track his senior year. He earned a psychology degree from Wisconsin in 2003 and is pursuing a masters degree in exercise physiology at BGSU. He was born November 10, 1979.
