Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Dunning Named Defensive Line Coach
1/19/2026 4:27:00 PM | Football
OXFORD, Ohio – Miami University head football coach Chuck Martin has announced the addition of Isiah Dunning to his coaching staff. Dunning will coach the defensive line.
Dunning returns to Oxford after spending one season with the Buffalo Bulls. This past season, UB had 36 sacks and 74 tackles for loss and Dunning helped produce a first-team all-conference award winner. He was also responsible for opponent's breakdowns, maintaining a recruiting database and organized practice plans. He was also a main recruiter for northeast Ohio and southeast Michigan.
Prior to Buffalo, he spent two years as the defensive line coach at Grand Valley State University. The Lakers' 2024 defensive line was one of the top units in the country, evidenced by three players earning All-GLIAC honors. The top six defensive linemen tallied 197 tackles, 34.0 tackles for loss, 18.5 quarterback sacks, while also being a key component in the Lakers' holding opponents to 265.3 yards per game in total offense.
In 2023, under Dunning's guidance, Christian McCarroll was named the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year. McCarroll would go on to earn Division II All-American honors and sign with the New England Patriots.
Prior to his time with GVSU, he spent the 2022 season as the defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of Findlay. He has also coached at Muskingum University (2021-22, defensive line/recruiting), East Kenwood High School (2020, volunteer coach), Notre Dame College (2019-20, defensive line graduate assistant), Saginaw Valley (2019, defensive line/recruiting/pro liaison) and began his career at Miami (2017-19, defensive graduate assistant).
Dunning completed his physical education-sport leadership degree from GVSU in 2014, where he also lettered in football. He was named his team's defensive lineman of the year in 2013. Dunning also saw stints with the Dallas Cowboys (2015), Cleveland Gladiators (2016) and the Bismarck Bucks (2017) post-graduation.
Dunning returns to Oxford after spending one season with the Buffalo Bulls. This past season, UB had 36 sacks and 74 tackles for loss and Dunning helped produce a first-team all-conference award winner. He was also responsible for opponent's breakdowns, maintaining a recruiting database and organized practice plans. He was also a main recruiter for northeast Ohio and southeast Michigan.
Prior to Buffalo, he spent two years as the defensive line coach at Grand Valley State University. The Lakers' 2024 defensive line was one of the top units in the country, evidenced by three players earning All-GLIAC honors. The top six defensive linemen tallied 197 tackles, 34.0 tackles for loss, 18.5 quarterback sacks, while also being a key component in the Lakers' holding opponents to 265.3 yards per game in total offense.
In 2023, under Dunning's guidance, Christian McCarroll was named the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year. McCarroll would go on to earn Division II All-American honors and sign with the New England Patriots.
Prior to his time with GVSU, he spent the 2022 season as the defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of Findlay. He has also coached at Muskingum University (2021-22, defensive line/recruiting), East Kenwood High School (2020, volunteer coach), Notre Dame College (2019-20, defensive line graduate assistant), Saginaw Valley (2019, defensive line/recruiting/pro liaison) and began his career at Miami (2017-19, defensive graduate assistant).
Dunning completed his physical education-sport leadership degree from GVSU in 2014, where he also lettered in football. He was named his team's defensive lineman of the year in 2013. Dunning also saw stints with the Dallas Cowboys (2015), Cleveland Gladiators (2016) and the Bismarck Bucks (2017) post-graduation.
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