Mike Dietzel returns for his fourth season at Buffalo after coaching four All-MAC players in his first two seasons. Safeties Davonte Shannon and Domonic Cook as well as punt returner Terrell Jackson earned the first-team All-MAC recognition in 2010 and Jackson was named All-MAC Honorable Mention in 2011. 

In 2012, Dietzel did a tremendous coaching job when injuries struck. When starter Witney Sherry was lost for the season after seven games, seldom-used Derek Brim stepped in and played like an All-MAC safety.

Dietzel brought 24 years of coaching experience to Buffalo. He spent the previous seven years as a defensive coach at Western Kentucky, including three seasons as the Hilltoppers’ defensive coordinator. His efforts helped the Hilltoppers finish 16th in the country in 2006 in pass defense while leading the Gateway Football Conference in that category as well as total defense. He also helped WKU post a 7-5 record in 2007, their first season in Division I-A football.

Dietzel has some familiarity with the MAC as he spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons as defensive coordinator at Kent State, including helping the Golden Flashes to their first winning season in 14 years in 2001. 

He also spent seven years at Army, coaching running backs, wide receivers and tight ends during his time there. He was part of the 1996 staff that helped the Cadets go 10-2, the most wins in Army history.

He has also had coaching stints at Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins and Earlham.

A 1985 graduate of Otterbein with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, Dietzel lettered four years, starting three, as a defensive back for the Cardinals. The native of Sharon, PA was selected honorable mention All-Ohio Athletic Conference as a senior.

The motto that reflects his life is “quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort and willpower. ”

He enjoys fishing and golfing and the proudest moment of his professional life was winning the Commander-in-Chief trophy at Army by defeating Navy in 1996.

He and his wife Jennifer have a son, Taylor.