Football
- Title:
- Director of Personnel/Player Development
- Email:
- football@msu.edu
- Phone Number:
- 355-1647
Folino’s responsibilities include coordinating the summer jobs program, high school coaches clinics, football fantasy camp and community service. In addition, he serves as the football office’s liaison to National Football League scouts, student-athlete support services, MSU Football Players Association and Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
Prior to accepting a position in athletics administration, he spent 27 years in the college coaching ranks. Folino returned to Michigan State following four years at Vanderbilt (1998-2001), where he coached the secondary and served as defensive coordinator under Woody Widenhofer.
He worked one season as a defensive coordinator at Alma College (1997) and two years as the defensive backs coach at Albion College (1995-96).
Folino previously spent seven years as the secondary coach at Michigan State (1988-94) under George Perles. During his tenure, the Spartans made four bowl appearances (1989 Gator, 1989 Aloha, 1990 Sun and 1993 Liberty) and won a share of the 1990 Big Ten championship. In 1994, Michigan State led the Big Ten in passing defense (103.1 rating). In addition, Folino coached three first-team All-Big Ten selections: safety John Miller (1987-88), safety Harlon Barnett (1989) and cornerback Demetrice Martin (1994). Barnett also earned first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News in 1989.
His college coaching credits also include stops at Rice (1986-87), Penn (1985), Pittsburgh (1981-84), Cincinnati (1977-80), New Hampshire (1976) and Ohio State (1974-75). During his stint under Jackie Sherrill at Pittsburgh, the Panthers finished ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 three-straight years (No. 4 in 1981, No. 10 in 1982 and No. 18 in 1983) while earning trips to the 1982 Sugar, 1983 Cotton and 1984 Fiesta Bowls. Folino began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under legendary Coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State, where the Buckeyes won two-straight Big Ten championships in 1974-75 and made back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances (1975-76).
A three-year football letterman (1968-70), Folino earned his bachelor's degree in education from Villanova in 1971. He received a master's degree in educational administration from Ohio State in 1975.
A native of Pittsburgh, Folino and his wife Anita have eight children: sons, Anthony, Chuck, John and Danny; and daughters, Alyse, Ann, Ellen and Carlyann. The couple also has eight grandchildren: Johnny, Dano, Jack, Drew, George, Caroline, June and Charlie.
THE FOLINO FILE
YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE:Â 25th overall. Rejoined staff in 2002.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:Â College - Graduate assistant at Ohio State (1974-75); defensive backs coach at New Hampshire (1976); defensive backs coach at Cincinnati (1977-80); defensive backs coach at Pittsburgh (1981-84); defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at Pennsylvania (1985-86); defensive backs coach at Rice (1986-87); defensive backs coach at Michigan State (1988-94); defensive backs coach at Albion College (1995-96); defensive coordinator at Alma College (1997); defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt (1998-2001).
EDUCATION:Â Bachelor's degree in education from Villanova in 1971; master's degree in educational administration from Ohio State in 1975.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:Â College - Three-year starter at free safety for Villanova.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:Â Coach - 1975 Rose Bowl, 1976 Rose Bowl, 1976 NC AA Division II Playoffs, 1982 Sugar Bowl, 1983 Cotton Bowl, 1984 Fiesta Bowl, 1989 Gator Bowl, 1989 Aloha Bowl, 1990 Sun Bowl, 1993 Liberty Bowl, 1996 NC AA Division III Playoffs, 2003 Alamo Bowl, 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, 2009 Capital One Bowl, 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl, 2012 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, 2014 Rose Bowl, 2015 Cotton Bowl, 2015 College Football Playoff (Cotton Bowl), 2017 Holiday Bowl, 2018 Redbox Bowl.
