Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications
Release: 08/15/2006
A veteran of more than 20 years of coaching experience on the collegiate level, Dan Baranik returns to West Point for his fourth season as a member of the Black Knights’ coaching staff. Once again he mentors Army’s wide receivers.
Baranik’s star pupil during his first three seasons at West Point was Jeremy Trimble. Baranik mentored Trimble to Academy records for career receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns before graduating this past May.
In the four years prior to his arrival at the Academy, Baranik served as head coach at the U.S. Military Academy’s Prep School, following a seven-year term as head coach at Waynesburg College (1994-2000).
While at Waynesburg, the Altoona, Pa., native guided the Yellow Jackets to four consecutive winning seasons and departed as the second winningest head coach in school history. Prior to his arrival, Waynesburg had posted three straight 2-9 showings.
During his first season at Waynesburg, Baranik helped the Yellow Jackets double their victory total from the previous year, leading to the team’s best showing in four campaigns. He also increased his club’s recruiting and retention rates by 100 percent. Baranik tutored Waynesburg’s all-time leading rusher and all-time leading passer during his tenure. In all, Baranik guided the Yellow Jackets to five winning seasons and a Presidents Athletic Conference title in 1998. Waynesburg established 11 school records on the offensive side of the ball in his time at the helm.
A 1984 graduate of Shippensburg University, Baranik remained at his alma mater following graduation to mentor wide receivers. Following two successful seasons (1984-85), he accepted an administrative position at Vanderbilt University.
Baranik returned to his coaching roots in 1987, moving on to Lock Haven University, where he oversaw the Bald Eagles’ outside linebackers for one season. A two-year stint helping to guide the running backs at the University of Maryland followed (1988-89).
After coaching the defensive secondary at Olivet Nazarene University for one year (1990), Baranik moved on to Lehigh University where he instructed the Mountain Hawks’ wide receivers and tight ends from 1991 to 1993. He became the 18th head coach in Waynesburg history during the spring of 1994. He also served the role of the institution’s Assistant Dean.
Baranik led the USMA Prep School’s football team to a 6-3 record during his final year at the helm in 2004. For the first time in school history, USMAPS defeated both the U.S. Naval Academy Prep School and the U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School on the gridiron in the same season.
He and his wife, Betsy, have three children: Sarah, Annie and John.
Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications
