Widener University Athletics

A two-time All-American at Penn State, NFL veteran Dan Connor returns to the Widener coaching staff for his third season in 2020. Connor came to the Pride prior for the 2018 season with four years of coaching experience at the collegiate and pro levels after completing a six-year career in the NFL.
 
2019 saw continued growth among the defense. Mario Scotese was named Honorable Mention All-MAC after finishing in the top-6 in the conference in both tackles for loss (10.0) and sacks (6.5). Brendan Kearns shifted position from linebacker to defensive line and more than doubled his career tackle total. Newcomers Kevin Davis and Colin Murt were both in the team top-10 in tackles and figure prominently in the team’s future. 
 
In his first season with Widener,  the Pride once again ranked in the top portion of the conference in points allowed (23.0 per game) and sacks (30). Jordan Powell earned All-America honors for the second straight year and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears. Brian Armstrong and Mike Pawlowski were selected Second Team All-MAC. Armstrong was a First Team Academic All-American and the MAC Senior Scholar Athlete for football. Mario Scotese was voted CoSIDA Academic All-District. 

Connor completed the Nunn-Wooten NFL Scouting Fellowship with the Tennessee Titans where he was a member of the scouting department during the Titans’ 2017 training camp. In 2016 and 2017 he was the head coach and defensive coordinator at Archbishop Carroll High School. Prior to that, he spent two seasons at West Chester University as the linebackers coach and a special teams assistant. While with the Golden Rams, the team went 18-6 including a trip to the 2014 NCAA Division II tournament, advancing to the second round.
 
As a player, Connor suited up for six seasons for the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, and New York Giants, making 216 tackles in 62 career games. A third round selection (74th overall) by Carolina in the 2008 draft, his best season came in 2011 when he appeared in 15 games for the Panthers with 11 starts, making 75 stops and forcing a fumble.
 
As a collegian, the Wallingford, Pa. native was a four-year starter at Penn State, graduating as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 419. He was a two-time All-American and was the 2007 recipient of the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in the country.