The University of Arkansas has named Dan Enos offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Bret Bielema announced Thursday (Jan. 22)
Enos (pronounced Ee-nos) comes to Arkansas after five seasons as head coach at Central Michigan where he called offensive plays for the Chippewas. At CMU, he coached offensive tackle Eric Fisher, who became the first Mid-American Conference player to be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in 2013 by the Kansas City Chiefs.
“We are thrilled to have Coach Enos joining us in Fayetteville,” said Bielema. “Dan is a great fit for our program. He runs a pro-style offense and brings expertise at the quarterback position as both a player and coach. We played against each other in college and he was a very intelligent and talented quarterback who showed great toughness and leadership. He has an outstanding reputation and will be a tremendous asset for Razorback football.”
Enos has history moving to a new environment with a senior quarterback. In 2006, he joined his alma mater, Michigan State, as the quarterbacks coach and mentored Drew Stanton, who earned team MVP honors after accounting for 2,252 total yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior. Following the season, Stanton was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the NFL Draft.
In 2004, Enos became the quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati and inherited senior quarterback Gino Guidugli. He helped Guidugli finish his career as the school’s all-time leading passer with 11,453 career yards, including 2,633 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns as a senior.
“I want to thank Bret (Bielema) for this wonderful opportunity to be part of something special at the University of Arkansas,” said Enos. “The challenge of winning a championship in the SEC and developing young men at the highest level of college football is very attractive. Bret and I share many of the same philosophies and I’m excited to open the next chapter of my coaching career down in Fayetteville.”
Enos was hired as Central Michigan’s head coach in 2010 and spent the past five seasons at the helm. He led the Chippewas to bowl eligibility in each of the past three seasons and coached in two bowl games, including a win over Western Kentucky in the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Central Michigan passed for over 3,000 yards in four of his five seasons as head coach.
In 2014, Central Michigan led the MAC and ranked eighth nationally in time of possession, controlling the clock for an average of 33:24 per game. The Chippewas also excelled at passing efficiency, ranking third in the MAC and 18th nationally with a 149.55 efficiency rating. Junior quarterback Cooper Rush set an FBS bowl record with seven passing touchdowns in the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl.
Prior to Central Michigan, Enos spent four seasons in a variety of offensive roles at Michigan State. He served as the Spartans’ running backs coach from 2007 to 2009 and coached quarterbacks in 2006.
In 2004 and 2005, Enos coached quarterbacks at Cincinnati. In addition to coaching Guidugli, he mentored freshman quarterback Dustin Grutza in 2005. Grutza earned the team’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award after starting all 11 games under center, completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,799 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also earned BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after completing 17-of-26 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate game against Eastern Michigan.
Enos served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for North Dakota State in 2003. He helped the Bison average 30.1 points per game in its final season as a member of NCAA Division II. North Dakota State finished the season at 8-3, including two Top 10 victories – at No. 3 Montana and against No. 8 Nebraska-Omaha.
Enos coached quarterbacks at Western Michigan from 2000 to 2002. All three of his Broncos teams passed for over 2,700 yards during his tenure. In 2000, he helped Western Michigan to a 9-3 record and a MAC West division title.
In 1999, Enos was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Missouri State. The Bears scored 33.9 points per game, the 23rd best mark in the nation, and passed for 258.8 yards per game, ranking No. 22 nationally.
Enos also spent time at Southern Illinois (Quarterbacks and wide receivers, 1997-98), Northern Michigan (Offensive coordinator and offensive backs, 1996) and Lakeland College (Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers, 1994-95). He served as a graduate assistant on Michigan State’s staff from 1991 to 1993.
A standout quarterback at Michigan State, Enos started two seasons and earned a 16-7-1 record (.688) as a starter, leading the Spartans to bowl victories in both seasons. He still ranks No. 13 in school history in passing yards (3,837) and completions (297). His .621 completion percentage still ranks fourth-best in Spartan history.
Enos graduated from Michigan State with a degree in business administration in 1991 and earned his master’s in sports administration in 2006. The Dearborn, Mich. Native is married to his wife, Jane. The couple has two children, Lia and Alex.
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