Ithaca College head football coach Dan Swanstrom announced the first addition to his staff, as Michael Toerper (Ter-per) was named defensive coordinator on February 21, 2017.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, Toerper guided a stingy unit that allowed just 15.3 points and 284.6 yards per game - the lowest in both categories since 2012. Seven players on the defense earned Liberty League postseason awards.
During the 2018 campaign, IC's defense was even more dominant than the year before. Ithaca allowed 12.8 points per contest and 259.5 yards. The defensive unit ranked among the nation's best all season in points allowed, rush yards allowed, total defense and third down conversion percentage. At the conclusion of the regular season, all 11 starters on the defense were named All-Liberty League, and senior Pat Minogue was named Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year, as well as a First-Team All-American by the AFCA. Minogue also garnered Third-Team All-America honors by D3football.com.
In 2019, seniors John Hadac and Nick Garone were named All-Americans under the guidance on Toerper.
A 2008 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Toerper comes to South Hill after a seven-year stint at Johns Hopkins University. While at Hopkins, Toerper spent three seasons (2010-12) as the wide receivers coach, and was elevated to special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2013. He also took over recruiting coordinator duties in 2014. Hopkins was the Centennial Conference championships all seven seasons in which Toerper was part of the staff.
Under his watch as receivers coach, the Blue Jays averaged 473 yards of total offense per game. Toerper mentored the 2010 Centennial Offensive Player of the Year, Sam Wernick, who caught 69 passes for 1,265 yards and 17 touchdowns that season. He also oversaw the development of Dan Wodicka, who finished his career at Hopkins with 260 receptions for 3,148 yards, which both rank second all-time at the University.
After his move to the other side of the ball, Toerper coached the 2016 Centennial Defensive Player of the Year in Jack Toner, an AFCA First-Team All-American. The Blue Jay pass defense led the Centennial Conference, and ranked within the top 25 nationally in passing defense efficiency since Toerper took over. Nine different defensive backs, as well as a place kicker, were named all-conference under his guidance.
In his first season as recruiting coordinator, Toerper brought in 28 recruits from 12 different states.
Prior to his arrival in Baltimore to work at Hopkins, Toerper spent one season as a defensive assistant at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
As a player for the Division I Pitt Panthers, the York, Pa. native played in 36 games over his final three seasons as a defensive back and special teams contributor. He earned a scholarship with the program after joining the team as a walk-on.
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