Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1992 TAG: 9201010045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: COLLEGE PARK, MD. LENGTH: Medium
MARYLAND HIRES DUFFNER
Mark Duffner, who enjoyed immediate and lasting coaching success at Holy
Cross, promised Tuesday to revive the University of Maryland's football
program.
"Our goal is to bring Maryland football back into a position of
prominence," said Duffner, who will receive an annual base salary of $120,000.
"We will do this with great honesty and great integrity."
But he said his formula for success would not be put on a fast track, and
could conceivably take every bit of his five-year contract to reach its
ultimate potential.
"We will work tirelessly to produce a football team that this university
will be very proud of, both academically and athletically," he said. "But this
program, this strategy we have, is not going to be a 40-yard dash. I think you
could probably equate it more to the mile run. It won't be a quick fix."
Duffner, 38, replaces Joe Krivak, who resigned on Dec. 6 after five years
as the Terrapins' head coach. He was 20-34-2 in that span, including 2-9 in
1991.
Duffner, in contrast, was 60-5-1 in his six years at Holy Cross. His .916
winning percentage is best among active college football coaches.
Although that lofty record was achieved at a Division I-AA school, he
expressed confidence that he could also enjoy success at the I-A level.
"The key word to our success has been attitude," Duffner said. "We worked
very, very hard in our program to develop a team that has a `refuse to lose'
attitude.
"I'm not sure that we were always faster, stronger or bigger than the
people that we played against, but our football team believed in themselves
and had great commitment."
Athletic director Andy Geiger said Duffner topped his short list of "six or
seven" candidates. Geiger also interviewed Clemson defensive coordinator Ron
Dickerson and head coach Jimmye Laycock of William and Mary, but found too
many fine qualities in Duffner to let him get away.
"The football search was dedicated to finding a qualified, successful head
coach who has established a record in a great many areas," Geiger said.
"Obviously, winning and losing, Mark Duffner has a phenomenal record at Holy
Cross."
Holy Cross has won the Patriot League championship in five of the past six
years and has captured four Lambert Cups as the East's top Division I-AA team.
The Crusaders were 11-0 in 1991, named the Eastern College Athletic Conference
I-AA team of the year and were ranked No. 3 nationally. Duffner leaves Holy
Cross having compiled a 20-game winning streak, longest in the nation.
But Geiger was also impressed by Duffner's dedication toward his players'
education. During his tenure at Holy Cross, 91 of 95 seniors graduated and the
Crusaders produced three academic All-Americans.
Duffner played collegiately at William and Mary.