Saturday, December 29, 2012
by San Diego Athletic Media Relations

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego introduced Dale Lindsey as its new head football coach at a Saturday afternoon press conference held in the Warren Hospitality Suite of the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Lindsey becomes the Toreros' 13th head coach and replaces Ron Caragher who recently was hired as head coach at San Jose State University.

"After Coach Caragher informed me that he was leaving USD, the first person I met with was our Defensive Coordinator, Dale Lindsey," said Ky Snyder, USD Executive Director of Athletics. "His knowledge of the game of football, of our team, of transitions, the respect he commands from both our coaches and players made him the likely person for me to put in charge of our program while we searched for a new Head Coach. We knew the characteristics that we were looking for: Integrity, belief and promotion of the student-athlete, great knowledge of the game of football, a recruiter who can identify talent that can be nurtured, a coach of coaches and one with connections to build our staff; and, a person who can be creative in moving our program forward. As we spoke to and interviewed many coaches, we kept coming back to the realization that the characteristics and experience that we were looking for, was already on our staff. We could not find someone with more integrity, belief in the student-athlete and knowledge of the game than Dale Lindsey. Both the coaches and players look to him to learn and draw on his experience. In his heart, Dale Lindsey is a teacher and a leader. That fits the University of San Diego and our Football program. I am very excited to introduce Dale Lindsey as our new Head Football Coach of the University of San Diego."

Lindsey returned to USD's staff this past season where he was the program's defensive coordinator. The Toreros finished the season with an overall record of 8-3 and earned a share of the Pioneer Football League title with Butler and Drake with 7-1 records. The Toreros won their final six games, and among 121 FCS teams in the country, USD ranked 14th in scoring defense (19.27), 15th in rushing defense (120.0) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (114.56).

"I want to thank Ky (Snyder), the USD athletic administration and department, former players, and the university for giving me this great opportunity," said Dale Lindsey. "We've had a winning tradition here that has been established by Ron Caragher, by former and active players, and it falls on me to continue this tradition of excellence in athletics as well as academics. Our staff will do everything in our power to help our players reach their goals both on and off the field. Not only do we want to develop good football players, but we want the next generation of CEO's, presidents of major corporations, and leaders of innovative industries. We intend to be good at both. We look forward to try and win a third PFL championship. We want a three-peat, and we want to be in the FCS playoffs next year in 2013."

From 2009-2011 Lindsey was at New Mexico State University where he was assistant head coach and linebackers coach. Prior to NMSU, he spent his first season with the USD staff in 2008, where he was the Torero linebackers coach. That season Lindsey helped the 9-2 Toreros' defense hold its opponents to just 18.9 points a game and 322 yards of total offense per contest.

"We are excited to have Dale Lindsey as our new Head Football Coach," stated Dr. Mary E. Lyons, USD President. "Dale's experience and vision for our program match well with the University. We look forward to having Coach Lindsey at the helm as we seek our first ever appearance in the FCS Playoffs."

Lindsey brings a wealth of football experience as a former NFL player and coach. His resume includes over 30 years of football coaching at the high school, college and professional ranks. Most recently with the Washington Redskins (2004-06), Lindsey also spent time on the San Diego Chargers staff as defensive coordinator (2002-03) and linebackers coach (1992-96).

From 1992-96, Lindsey was the linebackers coach on the Chargers' defensive staff that helped guide the team to a pair of AFC West titles (1992 and 1994), three playoff appearances (1992, 1994 and 1995) and one AFC Championship (1994). Lindsey also spent time with the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers.

Lindsey played both linebacker and fullback for two years at Western Kentucky, helping the 1963 Hilltoppers to a 10-0-1 mark and the Tangerine Bowl Championship. Overall, the two Topper teams (1963-64) he played on went 16-3-2. A two-time All-OVC pick, he earned All-America honors as a linebacker in 1964 and was named to the all-time OVC Team in 1988. A Bowling Green (Ky.) High product, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns (in the seventh round) and by the New York Jets of the American Football League (sixth round) in 1965 and went on to play nine seasons at linebacker for the Cleveland Browns (1965-73).

In 2008, Lindsey was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in Louisville, Kentucky. Lindsey and his wife, Eva, reside in Rancho Bernardo, and have five children - Blan, Jennifer, Kim, Johnny and Derek.