D.K. McDonald, Jr. is in his fourth season as the Rockets’ cornerbacks coach. McDonald has played a critical role in nurturing the Rockets’ rapidly improving secondary.
McDonald may have faced his greatest challenge as a coach in 2014 when senior corners Cheatham Norrils and Cameron Cole were lost fo the season due to injuries. But McDonald skillfully guided the Rockets’ young players, helping Toledo go 9-4 and win the GoDaddy Bowl. Junior Christian Dukes led UT cornerbacks with 62 tackles, two interceptions and 10 breakups.
In 2012, Toledo’s secondary helped the Rockets rank among the top 25 in the nation in fourth-down conversions (ninth), red-zone defense (10th), interceptions (18th) and turnovers forced (25th). UT went 9-4 and earned a trip to play Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
A native of Orrville, OH, McDonald previously coached defensive backs at Edinboro (2003-05), Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2006-10) and William & Mary (2011).
McDonald came to Toledo after one season at William & Mary, where he coached the defensive backs. Prior to that, McDonald was the secondary coach at Indiana (PA) for five seasons. During his tenure with the Crimson Hawks, McDonald mentored a pair of All-Americans and five all-conference performers. Highlighting those standouts was Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, a fourth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2010. In addition to his coaching duties with the defense, McDonald also served as IUP’s recruiting coordinator.
Prior to his stint at IUP, McDonald coached and coordinated the defensive secondary at his alma mater, Edinboro (PA), from 2003-06. During that time, he developed an All-American and four all-conference honorees. In 2005, the Fighting Scots led the nation in scoring, rushing and total defense and ranked third in passing efficiency defense.