Washington Commanders Head Coach and SU alumni Dan Quinn has been announced as the commencement speaker for the university's 100th graduating class this spring. The ceremony is scheduled for May 22 at Sea Gull Stadium and is the first time a non-student will serve as a commencement speaker since 2001.
Quinn graduated from SU in 1994 and was inducted into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 for his performance in track and field and football. He also met his wife, an athletic trainer named Stacey, during his time at SU, and the two have continued to support SU since their graduation. They've created three endowments for the school which benefit track and field, athletic training and football.
In track and field, Quinn set what was the school record in hammer throw at the time at 168 feet and 8 inches. The record stood for almost 20 years until 2012.
He was a defensive lineman for the SU football team and recorded 145 total tackles. In his final three years, he played in all 28 games and recorded two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and one interception, that was returned for a touchdown.
Quinn went to the Super Bowl twice as a defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, who won the Super Bowl in 2014 by 35 points. He also served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for six years and appeared at the Super Bowl again in 2017.
Quinn won the Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2021 and now serves as the head coach for the Washington Commanders.
Admission to the commencement is by ticket only. Each graduating student will be eligible for up to five tickets at the commencement.
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By DAVID BOHENICK
Editor-in-Chief
Image courtesy of Salisbury University