Dennis Springer recently concluded his ninth year as Northwestern's wide receivers coach after joining the program on Jan. 31, 2011. He came to NU after spending the previous three seasons at Indiana University, serving as the assistant head coach and running backs coach, as well as the Hoosiers' co-special teams coordinator.
Springer watched over a well-rounded receiving corps that ranked third in the Big Ten in 2018 with 3352 yards. He has also coached one of the most productive wide receivers in Wildcat history as senior Flynn Nagel rose to 10th all time for career receptions at Northwestern.
Nagel had 12 catches for 220 receiving yards against Nebraska, the most by a Big Ten receiver since 2013 and third most in program history. Nagel also earned All Big-Ten honorable mention.
Springer also oversaw the development of several young pass-catchers. First-year J.J. Jefferson appeared in 12 games and scored two touchdowns. Had career-best games in wins over Michigan State and Minnesota. Sophomore Kyric McGowan got time in 13 games in 2018, scoring two touchdowns and averaging over 20 yards per catch.
Junior Bennett Skowronek had the play of the season when he laid out, diving into the endzone to make a one-handed touchdown grab against Iowa, which ultimately sent the ‘Cats to the first Big Ten Championship game in program history.
In his sixth season leading the Wildcats' receiving corp, Springer saw senior Austin Carr post arguably the greatest season by a receiving in program history. Carr became just the third player since 1990 to lead the Big Ten in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns and was named a finalist for the 2016 Biletnikoff Award given to the nation's top receiver. He set a new NU single-season record with 1,247 receiving yards, tied the program mark with 12 touchdown receptions and hauled in 90 catches, the third-best mark in program history. Carr went on to sign with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent and is now on the New Orleans Saints 53-man roster.
Following the departure of Carr, Springer helped usher in a new crop of receivers in 2017 who helped fuel a passing offense that averaged just over 238 passing yards per game. Three Wildcats’ receivers finished the year with over 30 receptions for the first time since 2013, with junior Flynn Nagel leading the team with 48 receptions to go along with 489 yard and two touchdowns. Sophomore Bennett Skowronek had a breakout sophomore campaign, finishing with 45 catches for a team-high 644 yards and five touchdowns, while senior Macan Wilson also finished with 32 catches fro 446 yards.
In his first season in Evanston, Springer oversaw the continued growth of Jeremy Ebert into one of the most prolific wide receivers in the Big Ten. Ebert's 1,025 receiving yards in 2011 represent the first 1,000-yard season by a Wildcat pass-catcher since D'Wayne Bates in 1998 and the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. Ebert, a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media who later was drafted by the New England Patriots, ranked second in the league with 11 touchdown catches and third with 5.9 catches per game.
Additionally, Springer mentored true first-year Christian Jones during his rise to the position of starting 'Z' wideout and helped Kain Colter thrive in his newfound receiver role. Veteran Demetrius Fields came on down the stretch, catching a touchdown pass in three straight games to end the season and totaling a career-best 309 receiving yards for the year.
In all, Springer's wideouts contributed to the Wildcats leading the Big Ten in passing average with 256.6 yards per game.
In 2012, Springer developed a deep corps of receivers that was equally as committed to run-blocking on the perimeter as it was to making its presence known through the air. At season's end, Christian Jones emerged as the team leader in receptions (35) and receiving yards (412), while Tony Jones made a successful return from a leg injury that kept him out of the 2011 season to haul in four TD catches.
Those two Jones (no relation) were again hard to keep up with in 2013, combining for more than 100 receptions and nearly 1,300 yards receiving. Christian Jones completed the year with a monster game vs. rival Illinois, grabbing 13 passes for 182 yards and two highlight reel TDs. Senior Rashad Lawrence also completed his Wildcat tenure with 31 grabs for 463 yards on the year, including a career-high 149 against No. 4/3 Ohio State.
Kyle Prater led all Wildcats in receiving in 2014, leading the team in catches (51), yards receiving (535) and touchdown receptions (2). He caught 10 passes en route to an upset over Notre Dame and collected his first career touchdown in the matchup versus Northern Illinois. Tony Jones trailed just behind Prater, making 35 catches with an average of 9.2 yards receiving per catch.
Christian Jones and Austin Carr led Springer’s receiving corps in 2015, as they picked up two touchdowns each. Garrett Dickerson, Miles Shuler, and Mike McHugh also had strong seasons as the receiving unit developed chemistry with redshirt first-year quarterback Clayton Thorson.
Springer's best rushing season in Bloomington came in 2008 when Indiana finished sixth in the Big Ten with 2,003 yards on the ground and 19 touchdowns. The Hoosiers averaged 4.5 yards per carry for the year, posting their best rushing season since 2001.
On special teams, Indiana ranked third in the Big Ten in 2010 in kickoff returns, averaging 23.1 yards after racking up 1,476 yards on 64 returns. Tandon Doss led the Hoosiers with 1,016 yards on 41 returns (24.8 yard average).
Prior to his stint at Indiana, Springer spent one season as the defensive secondary coach at Western Kentucky University as the Hilltoppers made the transition from the Championship Subdivision (FCS) to the Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Springer's coaching career has its roots in the Mid-American Conference as he spent four seasons at Bowling Green State University prior to joining the staff at WKU. Springer was in charge of the running backs from 2003 to 2005 before making the transition to the defensive side of the ball, taking responsibility of the safeties for the 2006 season. He helped guide the Falcons to the 2003 MAC West Division title and a 28-24 victory over Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl. BGSU also won the 2004 GMAC Bowl, defeating Memphis 52-35, and captured the 2005 MAC East Division championship.
Springer's lengthiest tenure came at Ball State University where he spent 10 seasons with the Cardinals in a handful of capacities. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the 1993 and 1994 seasons before being promoted to wide receivers coach in 1995. Springer filled that role until the 1999 season when he resumed responsibility of the outside linebackers, a position he held for two years before being named the defensive secondary coach for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Ball State made a pair of appearances in the Las Vegas Bowl (1993, 1996) during that time.
A Fort Wayne, Ind., native, Springer earned his bachelor of science in secondary education from Butler University in 1993 after helping the Bulldogs to three Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference championships. Springer also served as a team captain of the 1991 team.
Springer and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters, Sophia and Sydney.