Paul Dunn

Biography

Paul Dunn returns for his second season as the Falcons Assistant Offensive Line Coach after spending 25 years coaching in the collegiate ranks, including 22 years of coaching the offensive line.

In his first season as the Falcons Assistant Offensive Line Coach, the offensive line unit paved the way for the NFL’s second ranked rushing offense (152.7 yards per game) and Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner. Turner ranked second in the NFL in rushing (1,699 yards) in 2008, marking the third highest rushing total in Falcons history. Under the guidance of Dunn, the offensive line also assisted in Turner crossing the goal line a franchise-high 17 times and passing the 200-yard plateau on two occasions. The Falcons’ offensive line also protected NFL Rookie of the Year QB Matt Ryan so that he could throw for 3,440 yards (on 265 of 434 passing) with 16 touchdowns. Ryan’s production could be credited to the fact that the Falcons’ offensive line allowed a franchise-low of 17 sacks, surpassing the previous mark of 25 (1982). The 17 sacks on 434 pass attempts were equivalent to allowing one sack per every 25.5 plays, which also set a new franchise mark, surpassing the previous bests of one sack per every 17.1 plays (1997, 1994).

Prior to joining the Falcons, Dunn served as the Offensive Line Coach (2005-2007) for the Pittsburgh Panthers, his alma mater. In 2007, Pitt’s offensive line paved the way for freshman running back LeSean McCoy to rush for 1,328 yards while breaking freshman records in touchdowns (14) and points (90), which were previously held by Tony Dorsett.

The Panthers ranked 16th nationally in 2006 in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.5 per game) under the guidance of Dunn and offensive lineman Joe Villani. Villani was invited to play in the Hula Bowl that season, the first lineman to play in the game for the University of Pittsburgh since former Falcons Pro Bowl guard Bill Fralic’s appearance in 1984. In 2005, Dunn also coached All-Big East selection Charles Spencer who was selected in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.

Before returning to Pittsburgh, Dunn was the Running Game Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for the Kentucky Wildcats from 2003-2004. During the 2003 season, Kentucky produced 24 rushing touchdowns, the third highest total in school history.

Dunn has also registered a five-year coaching stint at Kansas State University as the Running Game Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach. During Dunn’s tenure, the Wildcats ranked among the nation’s top five in scoring four times, including a national-best 48 points per game in 1998. In 2002, Kansas State averaged 44.8 points to rank second in the country. He also oversaw running back Josh Scobey break the KSU single-season rushing record with 1,263 yards in 2001 and one year later, saw a new record when Darren Sproles logged 1,465 yards. Scobey was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and Sproles was selected by the San Diego Chargers.

Dunn coached four Kansas State players who earned All-America honors, including first-team honoree Nick Leckey and third-team selections Ryan Young, Randall Cummings and Andy Eby. Additionally, Ryan Lijia earned All-Big 12 honors and was a starting guard for the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts during the 2006 season.

Dunn also made coaching stops at Vanderbilt (offensive line coach, 1996-1997), Cincinnati (offensive line coach, 1994-1995), Maine (offensive line coach, 1990-1993), Rutgers (offensive line coach, 1989) and Edinboro (offensive line, 1986-1988).

He earned his coaching start at Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant in 1983, prior to joining the Penn State Nittany Lions as a graduate assistant under head coach Joe Paterno (1984-1985).

A three-year letterman during his collegiate career at Pitt (1978-82), Dunn was a member of four teams that finished in the Top 10, including two that finished second in at least one major poll. The Panthers went 11-1 in three consecutive years (1979-81), including the 1980 campaign when Pitt was named the nation’s top team by the New York Times at the end of the season.

Dunn and his wife, Melody, have been married 24 years and have three children, two daughters, Katlyn and Kelsey, and one son, Casey.

Paul Dunn’s Coaching Background

• 2008-2009 -- Assistant Offensive Line Coach // Atlanta Falcons
• 2005-2007 -- Offensive Line Coach // University of Pittsburgh
• 2003-2004 -- Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach // University of Kentucky
• 1998-2002 -- Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach // Kansas State University
• 1996-1997 -- Offensive Line Coach // Vanderbilt University
• 1994-1995 -- Offensive Line Coach // University of Cincinnati
• 1990-1993 -- Offensive Line Coach // University of Maine
• 1989 -- Offensive Line Coach // Rutgers University
• 1986-1988 -- Offensive Line Coach // Edinboro University
• 1984-1985 -- Graduate Assistant // Penn State University
• 1983 -- Graduate Assistant // University of Pittsburgh