Dan Quinn had a fairly quick ascent through the coaching ranks.
After finishing up his football career at Division-III Salisbury State University (I can hazard a guess as to why they eventually dropped the “State” and avoided an eternity of puns), Quinn began coaching defensive line at William & Mary, VMI, and then five years at Hofstra, eventually being promoted to defensive coordinator in his final season. Hofstra has been to the I-AA playoffs just five times in school history, and three of those came during Quinn’s tenure; that also includes their only two playoff wins, one of which came in his final season, 2000.