Feb. 10, 2011
SAN DIEGO - Dan Finn has been named the offensive line coach at San Diego State, football head coach Rocky Long announced Thursday.
Finn comes to Montezuma Mesa from Idaho, where he coached the offensive line for four seasons. The Vandals combined to go 14-12 over the past two years, including an 8-5 mark and a Roady's Humanitarian Bowl victory over Bowling Green in 2009.
"Dan is accustomed to the same scheme that we run, which should make for a smooth transition," Long said. "He worked with (offensive coordinator) Andy Ludwig at Utah when the team advanced to a BCS game. He is a young, energetic coach who already has an impressive list of accomplishments."
At Idaho, Finn coached two all-WAC players, including 2010 first-round NFL draft pick Mike Iupati. As a senior in 2009, Iupati was a consensus All-American and Outland Trophy finalist.
Prior to Idaho, Finn had graduate assistant stints with Utah (2004-06) and Southern Utah (2003-04), was a defensive coordinator at Phoenix College (2003) and an assistant coach at Mesa College (2002).
Before getting his start in coaching, Finn played professional football for two years. In 1998, he was a member of the Denver Broncos' practice squad. In 1999, he started at guard for the World Bowl champion Frankfort Galaxy of NFL Europe.
Finn played his collegiate ball at Northern Arizona, where he was a two-time first-team All-American for the Division I-AA Lumberjacks in 1996 and 1997. A first-team all-Big Sky selection from 1995-97, he earned honorable mention accolades as a freshman in 1994. He was NAU's team captain as a junior and senior and its MVP and offensive player of the year in 1997.
Finn graduated from Northern Arizona in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies.