Danny Verpaele enters his fourth season with the program and his third year as the defensive coordinator in 2022.
During the 2021 fall season, Verpaele led the Owls to the top-ranked scoring defense in the Big South Conference and 18th ranked in the FCS allowing 19.5 points per game. The defensive coordinator also helped guide KSU to the top-ranked red zone defense in the FCS at 57.6%.
Verpaele was a key instrument in the success of linebacker Evan Thompson, who went on to earn First Team All-Big South honors. Under Verpaele's play calling, Thompson set a new school record for total tackles in a single season (118) and became the first player in KSU history to record 10+ tackles in three consecutive games. During that stretch, Thompson also broke the program record for total tackles in a game when he recorded 17 against Gardner-Webb.
In his first year with Kennesaw State, the defense finished the season with the No. 3 total defense in the nation, while also ranking in the Top-25 in the country in a slew of other categories, including rushing defense (5th), fumble recoveries (15th), third down defense (18th) and passing yards allowed (22nd).
With Verpaele's guidance, safety Cincere Mason racked up 42 tackles and an interception, while safety Demetrius Pettway finished with 36 stops and two interceptions. He also coached Bryson Armstrong, who ended the 2019 season as a unanimous All-American, while collecting the Big South Defensive Player of the Year award.
Since arriving at Kennesaw State, he has been responsible for the kick-off cover unit, which ranked first in the Big South in 2019.
A coaching veteran, Verpaele came to Kennesaw State following three seasons as defensive coordinator/linebackers’ coach at Valdosta State. Under his defensive leadership, the Blazers captured the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship with a perfect 14-0 mark for the first time in program history.
Known for leading a tenacious defensive unit, his squad led the nation with seven defensive touchdowns in 2018 and ranked fifth nationally in tackles for loss with 117. Jameon Gaskin went on to be named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year and David Brown earned second-team All-Conference honors at linebacker.
In 2018, Verpaele's defense led the Gulf South Conference in turnovers (27) and red zone defense (65.2 percent), which ranked eighth and ninth nationally.
He is familiar with developing NFL talent, as two members of his defense, Stephen Denmark and Iseoluwape Jedede, found themselves in the league after the 2018 season. Denmark was selected in the seventh round by the Chicago Bears, while Jedede was signed by the Indianapolis Colts.
Verpaele's 2017 Valdosta State defense finished seventh in the country in first downs allowed and ninth in the nation with only 23 touchdowns allowed. He coached a pair of all-conference performers in Malik Slater, who earned first team honors at linebacker, while Sharmaine Washington was tabbed second team All-Gulf South at linebacker.
Verpaele made an immediate impact in his first season as the VSU defensive coordinator after spending the 2016 season as the linebackers' coach. The Blazers led the nation in interceptions (27), while also ranking third in turnovers (34 takeaways) and third in third down conversion defense (25 percent). His group led the Gulf South Conference in multiple categories, including first downs allowed and third down conversion defense. In addition to leading the defense, Verpaele oversaw all junior college recruiting.
Before his time in South Georgia, Verpaele made stops as an assistant coach at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Jacksonville University and as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State in 2013. He began his coaching career at the Virginia Military Institute as an assistant coach in 2009.
Verpaele was a three-year letterman as a strong safety at the University of South Florida from 2004-08 and was named a Sporting News Freshman All-American following his rookie season. He played in 31 contests and registered 110 total tackles, including 14 tackles for loss as a Bull.
