Leathernecks Name Dan McKeown Defensive Coordinator

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

MACOMB -- Western Illinois football announces the hiring of Dan McKeown as Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach for the Leatherneck football program.

For the past five seasons, McKeown has served as defensive coordinator at Saginaw State University in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

"Coach McKeown emerged from an impressive group of defensive coordinator candidates we vetted," Western Illinois head coach Joe Davis said. "His defenses have been among the most competitive and productive units in a tough D2 conference over the past four years.

"He also has gained a reputation as an elite recruiter here in the Midwest. Most importantly Coach McKeown will be a great mentor to our players and challenge them to become exceptional students and athletes at Western Illinois University."

This past season, the SVSU defense allowed 23.9 points per game. The unit was second in the conference in sacks (27), second in interceptions (15) and led the league in defensive touchdowns (five). The Cardinals ranked number one in the league against the pass, allowing 183 yards per game. The team was fourth against the run, surrendering 115 yards per contest. McKeown also coached First-Team Associated Press and AFCA All-American linebacker Micah Cretsinger.

In 2022, McKeown's defense ranked among the top units in all of D2 Football, allowing 19 points per game while SVSU went 8-3. The defense was stingy, allowing only 97 rushing and 225 passing yards.

The 2021 season saw McKeown help SVSU to a 7-4 overall record and 4-3 GLIAC play record. McKeown coordinated a defense that was a huge part of the Cardinals success all season, allowing only 23.1 points per game and recording 32 takeaways, ranking fifth in NCAA DII and first in the GLIAC.

In his first season on the sidelines for SVSU in 2019, the Cardinal defense had 15 interceptions, as well as three touchdowns.

Prior to coaching at Saginaw Valley, McKeown coached at Lawrence Tech University, where he spent two seasons and was the defensive coordinator in 2018.

Prior to joining Lawrence Tech's coaching staff, McKeown spent five seasons at Siena Heights University (2012-2016), serving as the defensive backs coach and the strength & conditioning coach from 2012-2015. In 2013, Siena Height's secondary became a top-pass defense in the Mid-States Football Association, ranking second in pass defense (167.2) and second in defensive pass efficiency (105.0). In 2014, Siena Heights won a share of the Mid-States Football Association Mideast Title in the third year of the program's existence. The 2014 SHU secondary was again one of the best in the MSFA leading the league in defensive pass efficiency (93.7) and third in pass defense (167.2).

In 2016, McKeown took over as the defensive coordinator at Siena Heights University. SHU's defense ended up ranking as a top defense in the MSFA. The Saints secondary again became the top-pass defense in the MSFA, leading the league in pass defense (174.6 YPG) and ranking second in defensive pass efficiency (114.6). The SHU defense also was second in total defense (325.1 YPG) and fourth in scoring defense (23.6 PPG) in the MSFA. The 2016 SHU defense set a school record for the most takeaways in a season (28). McKeown guided seven All-MSFA defensive backs in four years from 2013-2016.

McKeown started coaching at Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley, Arizona, from 2009-2011. He served as the defensive backs coach in 2009-10 and then became the defensive coordinator in 2011.

McKeown played defensive back at Adrian College from 2002-2005. He was a four-year starter and a team captain his senior year. He currently holds the program career record for most interceptions with 15. In 2004, McKeown led the nation in interceptions with nine. That year he was named First Team All-MIAA and was named to the First Team Football Gazette All-America Team. McKeown earned his Bachelor's degree in Communications in 2006.

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