After his first season coaching at the professional level, Michigan Panthers Tight End Coach Danny McDonald is on the move. McDonald is returning home back to Washington, joining the Washington State Cougars as their new Defensive Quality Control Coach for 2023. McDonald becomes the Second Panthers Coach to leave this off-season, as Defensive Coordinator Dan Carrel left the Michigan Panthers to join Coastal Carolina as their new Assistant Defensive Coordinator.

McDonald returns to the Cougars after playing under Coach Mike Leach in 2011-2012. A native of Pullman, Washington McDonald has been in the coaching ranks since 2013 serving as a volunteer assistant at WSU for Coach Leach for two seasons. His first paid job was at East Los Angeles College (CCCAA) as the teams Special Teams Coordinator, and Wide Receivers Coach. He’d then join West Texas A&M (Division-II) from 16-17 as an Outside Receivers Coach and Defensive Graduate Assistant.

McDonald in 2018 would get his first opportunity at the FCS level with Eastern Washington, before joining Boise State and Auburn from 2020 to 2021 as a Defensive analyst. McDonald rejoins Jeff Schmedding the Cougars Defensive Coordinator who worked together at Auburn. McDonald joined the Panthers for 2022, where he saw a dynamic position room, that included Marcus Baugh, Ryan O’Malley, LaMichael Pettaway, and Connor Davis.

Moving forward the Panthers look to fill the offensive assistant/Tight Ends coach role with another dynamic young coach. With two coaching opportunities, now open the Panthers have about six weeks to fill the position, as USFL training camp begins around the middle of March. With the Panthers Tight End room now including new additions like Cole Hikutini and Super Bowl Champion Kyle Markway, the Panthers Tight End position looks to be primed for a breakout season whoever is leading the room.