Student Life Staff

Mike Durnin joined the University of Dubuque in January of 2013 as the Assistant Head Coach for the Spartans. Durnin had been the head football coach at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa from 2008-2012.

He will enter his 29th year in the collegiate coaching ranks and will be coaching the defensive line at UD along with coordinating special teams for the Spartans. In 2015’s Iowa Conference Championship run, the Spartans utilized a pair of All-IIAC selections on the defensive line that helped anchor the league’s top scoring (15.4 ppg) and total defense (314.7 ypg). UD recorded 10 sacks and also led the league in rush defense at 125.6 yards per game while allowing a league-low five touchdowns on the ground. The Spartan defense helped post a +13 turnover margin, the best in the IIAC. In his three years at UD, he has coached six All-IIAC selections on the defensive line.

Durnin began his collegiate coaching career with Spartan head coach Stan Zweifel at Minnesota State – Mankato under head coach Dan Runkle, where he coached wide receivers and defensive backs. The pair left Mankato for Yankton College where they spent two seasons, with Durnin serving as defensive coordinator.

Durnin moved on and spent seven years at the University of Puget Sound (UPS) (4 yrs.–defensive coordinator, 3 yrs. – offensive coordinator). During this time, UPS experienced its last multiple winning seasons, with numerous players earning All-Conference honors. From there, he went to Illinois State serving as backfield coach and recruiting coordinator. While at ISU, he coached a record-setting running back, quarterback, kicker, and punter, all of whom still grace the record books at Illinois State.

Durnin returned to his alma mater, UW-La Crosse in 2001; serving as defensive line coach and defensive coordinator. While at UW-L, he coached 10 All-Conference defensive linemen, including the 2002 WIAC Player of the Year. Twenty defensive players earned All-Conference honors during his time at UW-L as the defensive coordinator. UW-L appeared in the NCAA DIII playoffs four of his seven years.

Mike took over the Luther College Football program in 2008. During his time at Luther, his teams produced 17 All-Conference Players, the 2011 IIAC Defensive Player of the Year, along with setting numerous school records, including the career and single game tackles record holder and the career passing yardage, touchdown passes and total offense leader.

An active member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Durnin serves on the Public Relations Committee. He has also served on the NCAA DIII West Region Advisory Committee and has been a frequent playoff site rep for the NCAA DIII Football Playoffs.

Durnin is a frequent clinic speaker and is active each summer coaching at various camps throughout the United States. This past summer Durnin was published in the AFCA Summer Manual. 

He and his wife, Karen, have three daughters: Jena (son-in-law, Josh Oeltjen), Krista and Caitlin (son-in-law, Andrew Fjerstad), along with three grandchildren (Philip, Lillian, and Trent).