 Dorazio with the Toronto Argonauts in 2019 | |
| Born: | (1952-01-22)January 22, 1952[1] Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | August 13, 2024(2024-08-13) (aged 72) Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Offensive line coach |
| College | Kent State |
| High school | Stow High |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1972–1974 | Kent State (Graduate Assistant) |
| 1975–1977 | Hawaii |
| 1978 | San Jose State |
| 1979 | Washington |
| 1980–1981 | Northern Iowa |
| 1982–1983 | Georgia Tech |
| 1984–1988 | Washington |
| 1989–1991 | Holy Cross |
| 1992–1996 | Maryland |
| 1997 | Boston |
| 1998–2002 | Calgary Stampeders (Offensive line coach) |
| 2003–2014 | BC Lions (Offensive line coach) |
| 2015 | Saskatchewan Roughriders (Offensive line coach) |
| 2016–2018 | BC Lions (Offensive line coach) |
| 2019 | Toronto Argonauts (Offensive line coach) |
| 2020 | UBC (Offensive line coach) |
| 2020 | Simon Fraser (Co-offensive coordinator, offensive line coach) |
| 2023 | UBC (Offensive line coach) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Daniel Joseph Dorazio (January 22, 1952 – August 13, 2024) was an American professionalfootball coach who coached for 26 years in theNCAA, 22 years in theCanadian Football League (CFL), and for one year inU Sports. He was a four-timeGrey Cup champion after winning with theCalgary Stampeders in1998 and2001 and with theBC Lions in2006 and2011. Under his direction as anoffensive line coach, he had four players win theCFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award.
Dorazio was born to parents Joseph and Helen Dorazio inWilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, and grew up inPittsburgh.[1] When he was a teenager, his family moved toStow, Ohio, where he attendedStow High School.[1] He then attendedKent State University, where he playedcollege football for theKent State Golden Flashes as arunning back.[2]
Dorazio began his coaching career as a graduate assistant on theKent State Golden Flashes staff and was assigned to theoffensive line by head coachDon James.[2] He then spent time with theHawaii Rainbow Warriors from 1975 to 1977, theSan Jose State Spartans in 1978, theWashington Huskies in 1979, theNorthern Iowa Panthers from 1980 to 1981, and theGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1982 to 1983.[3]
Dorazio spent a large part of his NCAA coaching career with the Huskies, and joined the team in 1982, reuniting him with head coach James.[4] In 1984, Dorazio's offensive line scheme helped thefourth-ranked Huskies to a victory over theOklahoma Sooners in the1985 Orange Bowl.[4] His tenure with the Huskies came to an end after a disappointing 1988 season and he was fired by James.[4]
Dorazio then coached for theHoly Cross Crusaders from 1989 to 1991, theMaryland Terrapins from 1992 to 1996, and theBoston University Terriers in 1997.[3]
After 26 years incollege football, Dorazio was hired byWally Buono of theCalgary Stampeders to serve as the team'soffensive line coach in1998.[5] In his first season,Fred Childress was named a CFL All-Star as well as theCFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and the Stampeders won the86th Grey Cup.[5] After a loss in the87th Grey Cup, Dorazio won his second championship in2001 when the Stampeders defeated theWinnipeg Blue Bombers in the89th Grey Cup.[5] After a disappointing2002 season, Buono resigned and Dorazio left the Stampeders.[6][7]
After Buono was hired as the head coach of theBC Lions, Dorazio joined his coaching staff as the team's offensive line coach for the2003 season.[6] Under his tutelage,Rob Murphy won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 2005 and 2006 and Dorazio won his third Grey Cup championship following the Lions' victory in the94th Grey Cup.[6] He won his fourth title in2011 with the99th Grey Cup win, andJovan Olafioye won the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in 2012.[6] Upon the hiring ofJeff Tedford for the2015 season, Dorazio was not retained on the coaching staff.[8]
On February 2, 2015, it was announced that Dorazio had joined theSaskatchewan Roughriders andCorey Chamblin's staff as the team's offensive line coach, reuniting him with former BC Lionsoffensive coordinator,Jacques Chapdelaine.[9] The Roughriders finished with a league-worst 3–15 record and the entire coaching staff was dismissed.[10]
After Tedford resigned as the Lions' head coach and Buono returned as head coach, Dorazio was hired back to his coaching staff for the2016 season.[11] He spent three seasons in his second stint as the Lions' offensive line coach.[6] He was not retained for the2019 season by the team's new head coach,DeVone Claybrooks.[12]
On February 7, 2019, it was announced that Dorazio had joined theToronto Argonauts as the team's offensive line coach, with Chapdelaine and Chamblin also serving on the team's coaching staff, the latter as head coach.[3] After adisappointing season for the team, Chamblin was fired and replaced byRyan Dinwiddie,[13] who subsequently hiredStephen McAdoo as the new offensive line coach to replace Dorazio for 2020.[14]
Dorazio was hired as the offensive line coach for theUBC Thunderbirds, but only spent spring training with the team as the2020 U Sports football season was cancelled.[15] He was then hired bySimon Fraser on August 29, 2020, by interim head coach Mike Rigell, to serve as the team's offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator.[16] However, their 2020 season was also cancelled and he did not coach for Simon Fraser.[17]
On March 22, 2023, it was announced that Dorazio had re-joined the Thunderbirds as their offensive line coach.[17] In2023, offensive linemenTheo Benedet andGiovanni Manu were named toU Sports All-Canadian teams with the former winning theJ. P. Metras Trophy and the latter being selected in the2024 NFL draft.[18] The Thunderbirds also played in the58th Vanier Cup that year, but lost to theMontreal Carabins.[19]
Dorazio was married to Lisa Caroglanian Dorazio and had three children and four grandchildren. His daughter Christina predeceased him in 1999.[1]
Dorazio died of pancreatic cancer inAbbotsford, British Columbia, on August 13, 2024, at the age of 72.[1][4]