At San Diego State:
- Danny Gonzales enters his seventh season coaching San Diego State’s safeties and his first as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2017.
- Since 2011, SDSU’s 100 interceptions are the third most in the country, while its 14 interceptions returned for a touchdown are tied for the fifth most over that span.
- The Aztecs’ 49 interceptions over the last two seasons are the most in a two-year span in FBS play since Boston College had 51 in the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. SDSU led the country in interceptions (26) in 2016.
- In 2015, the Aztecs finished among the top 10 in the four main defensive categories, including a tie for second with 23 picks, fifth in total defense (287.3), seventh in scoring defense (16.4) and rushing defense (108.7) and 10th in passing defense (178.6).
- SDSU produced one of the best defensive efforts in school history in 2014, finishing in the top 20 nationally in nearly every defensive category, including scoring defense (13th) and total defense (16th).
- Coached Nat Berhe and Eric Pinkins, both of whom were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. Berhe was a fifth-round selection of the New York Giants, while Pinkins went in the sixth round to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
- Under his guidance, Berhe became the first Aztec safety in the Mountain West era (since 1999) to garner all-conference accolades three years in a row. Berhe, who landed on the 2013 preseason watch lists for the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, capped a brilliant collegiate career with first-team all-MW honors after leading the team with a career-high 99 tackles, including 60 solo stops.
- As a team in 2012, helped the Aztec defense top the MW in rushing defense with 133.5 yards per game. SDSU also showed dramatic improvement in that statistic at the national level, climbing from the 78th spot in 2011 to the 28th position in 2012.
- Was part of a staff that saw the Aztec defense finish 2011 with a No. 1 conference ranking in sacks (2.23/g), tackles for loss (6.54/g), interceptions (15) and turnovers gained (28).
Previous Experience:
- He previously was a member of Aztec head coach Rocky Long's staff at New Mexico.
- From 2005-08, worked with the safeties, punters, kickers and deep snappers at UNM. Under his tutelage, the Lobo safeties combined for 55 pass breakups in 2007-08, and the 2007 New Mexico squad ranked 13th nationally in total defense, 14th in scoring defense and 20th in passing defense.
- Coached placekicker John Sullivan to consensus All-America honors. A former walk-on, Sullivan nailed a nation's best 29 field goals in 2007.
- Placekickers Kenny Byrd (first-team all-MWC) and James Aho (freshman All-American), and punter Jordan Scott (honorable mention all-MWC) also were honored during Gonzales' coaching stint at UNM.
- Worked with NFL Draft picks defensive back Glover Quin (Houston Texans) and linebacker/defensive back Quincy Black (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) at New Mexico.
- Was the school's video coordinator from 2003-05 and started his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant for the Lobos from 1999-2002.
Playing Experience:
- Was a three-year letterwinner at New Mexico, competing as a punter and safety. He earned the team's Chuck Cummings Memo - rial Award for morale and spirit as a senior.
- Was a part of the 1997 Lobo squad that won the Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division championship and competed in the Insight.com Bowl. UNM compiled an 9-4 overall record that year, including a 6-2 mark in league action.
Education:
- Has a bachelor's degree from New Mexico in business administration and general management and a master's degree in physical education and recreation.
Personal:
- Is married to Sandra and has four children, Cole, Jake, Chloe and Abby.