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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Dan Antolik

Dan Antolik

Dan Antolik joined the Nebraska-Kearney football program in August 2017 and serves as the Lopers offensive line coach. 

A Pennsylvania native and a graduate of Fort Lewis College (Colo.), Antolik has an extensive coaching career that has seen him serve at a variety of levels over the past 40 years. He has been both a college and high school head coach and an assistant coach at schools around the nation. 35632

In 2017, UNK's o-line allowed the second fewest sacks in the MIAA (19) while blocking for a rushing attack that averaged 144 yards per game and produced 16 scores. None of the five starters or top reserves were seniors with several players in this group seeing their first extensive action in college. Finally, sophomore Josh Stoltenberg was named honorable mention All-MIAA with right tackle Corey Hoelck named UNK's Offensive MVP in the spring of 2018. 

The unit progressed in 2018 as the Lopers were among the national rushing leaders to the tune of 269 yards per game with 30 TD's. Center David Squiers earned All-MIAA honors with the Lopers overcoming an injury to Hoelck midyear to still rank among the league leaders in sacks allowed with only 12. 

Prior to coming to Central Nebraska, Antolik spent the 16 years at NCAA Division III Christopher Newport University (Newport News, Va.). He helped start the Captains program in 2000 and eventually was the Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, primarily working with the offensive line. 

Over the last decade, CNU recorded eight winning seasons, reaching the eight win mark four times. The Captains reached the 2008 and 2011 D3 playoffs and were annually among the top teams in the USA South Conference. CNU's success partly can be attributed to a run game that tallied 27 TD's in 2014 and 26 in 2011. Antolik also coached three All-American offensive linemen in his time in Newport News.

Prior to CNU, Antolik was a successful head coach at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Va. During his tenure, LHS went 42-8 and advanced to the playoffs each season. His Rams squads won three district titles and reached the 1998 Division 4 Virginia State Championship.

Antolik's other head coaching stints came at New Mexico Highlands U. (1976-78), St. Paul's College, Va. (1982-86), Bridgewater College, Va. (1986-91) and Mancos High School,  Colo. (1970-71). He also was head coach and Athletic Director at Currituck High School in North Carolina (1980-81). 

27719In 1983, he led SPC to a 7-3 mark and won a slew of "Coach of the Year" awards. That included honors from the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Assoc.), the Richmond Touchdown Club, the Washington D.C. Pigskin Club and Virginia State Sports Information Directors. 

He has served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Salem College (W.V.), New Mexico Military Institute and FCS-member Hampton U. (Va.). He was the defensive coordinator at SC, NMMI and HU. 

A member of the Fort Lewis Athletic Hall of Fame, he holds a B.A. from FLC as well as a Master's degree from Adams State University (Colo.). During his playing days for the then-FLC Raiders, he was a two-way player (fullback and linebacker), team captain and team MVP. 

He lives in Kearney with his wife, Jackie.