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Danton Barto

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Danton Barto
refer to caption
Barto at Memphis State
No. 59[1]
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born:March 31, 1971
Muncy, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:August 22, 2021(2021-08-22) (aged 50)
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Niceville (Niceville, Florida)
College:Memphis State (1989–1993)
Undrafted:1994
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Danton L. Barto (March 31, 1971 – August 22, 2021) was an American professional football linebacker and coach. He played college football for the Memphis State Tigers, and professionally for the Memphis Mad Dogs of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Connecticut Coyotes of the Arena Football League (AFL). He was also the head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators and Kansas City Command of the AFL.

Early life

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Barto was born in Muncy, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Niceville, Florida, and attended Niceville High School.[1] In 2023, his No. 55 jersey was retired by Niceville High.[2] It was the first number ever retired by the school.[2][3]

College career

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Barto played college football at Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) from 1990 to 1993.[1] He was redshirted by the Tigers in 1989.[1]

He recorded four interceptions in 1992, earning first-team All-Independent Football Alliance (IFA) and IFA Defensive Player of the Year honors. Barto totaled 144 tackles in 1993, garnering first-team All-IFA recognition for the second consecutive season.[4]

He was inducted into the University of Memphis M-Club Hall of Fame in 2007.[4] As of 2022, he is still the team's all-time leader in both solo tackles with 273 and total tackles with 473. A Change.org petition was started to request that Barto's jersey number be retired by Memphis.[5] After undergoing a formal process, Barto's No. 59 jersey was retired by the school in November 2022.[6][5] As of September 23, 2022, the petition had garnered 2,319 signatures.[5]

Professional career

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After going undrafted in the 1994 NFL draft, Barto signed with the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League (CFL) but did not play in any games for the team during the 1994 season.[7]

He dressed in 18 games for the CFL's Memphis Mad Dogs in 1995, totaling 27 defensive tackles, 10 special teams tackles, one sack, one pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a touchdown.[1]

He was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL in the 1996 dispersal draft in early March 1996.[8] He was later released by the team in early June without appearing in any games.[9]

He signed with the Connecticut Coyotes of the Arena Football League (AFL) in late March 1996.[10] Barto played in two games for the Coyotes during the 1996 season as a fullback/linebacker, recording one solo tackle and one assisted tackle.[1]

Coaching career

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Barto was the defensive coordinator of the Memphis Xplorers of the af2 during their inaugural season in 2001.[11] He then served as the team's head coach from 2002 to 2006.[12] In 2005, he was named the af2 Coach of the Year and won ArenaCup VI.[13] The Xplorers folded after the 2006 season.[14]

Barto was the head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators of the AFL in 2007. After starting the season with 2–10 record, it was reported that he would be let go after the season.[15] Barto and the Gladiators went on to finish the year with a 2–14 record.[16]

He was the head coach of the af2's Manchester Wolves from 2008 to 2009.[17] The Wolves went 9–7 in the 2008 regular season, and lost in the American Conference championship game to the Tennessee Valley Vipers.[18][19]

He was the head coach of the Arkansas Diamonds of the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2010, leading the team to an 11–3 regular season record and a loss in the conference championship game to the Billings Outlaws.[20][21]

Barto was the head coach of the Kansas City Command of the AFL from 2011 to 2012, compiling an overall record of 9–27.[16]

He was the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the National Arena League (NAL) in 2018.[22] The team went 0–15 and folded after the season.[23][24]

Head coaching record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
Memphis 2002 5 11 .313 4th in NC Central - - -
Memphis 2003 6 10 .375 3rd in NC Central - - -
Memphis 2004 10 6 .625 2nd in AC Mid-South 0 1 0.000 Lost to Florida Firecats in first round
Memphis 2005 13 3 .813 1st in NC Midwest 3 0 1.000 Won ArenaCup VI
Memphis 2006 11 5 .688 2nd in AC Southern 1 1 0.500 Lost to Green Bay Blizzard in second round
Memphis total 45 35 .570 4 2 .667
Las Vegas 2007 2 14 .125 5th in AC Western - - -
Manchester 2008 9 7 .563 2nd in AC East 2 1 .667 Lost to Tennessee Valley Vipers in AC Championship
Manchester 2009 7 9 .438 2nd in AC East 0 1 .000 Lost to Iowa Barnstormers in first round
Manchester total 16 16 .500 2 2 .500
Arkansas 2010 11 3 .786 1st in Lonestar East 2 1 .667 Lost to Billings Outlaws in Conference Championship
Kansas City 2011 6 12 .333 4th in NC Central - - -
Kansas City 2012 3 15 .167 4th in NC Central - - -
Kansas City total 9 27 .250 - - -
Lehigh Valley 2018 0 15 .000 6th in NAL - - -
Total 83 110 .430 8 5 .615

Scouting career

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Barto was a scout for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams from 2013 to 2017.[4][2] In 2022, the first-ever BART Awards, named after Barto, were given to the NFL's top scouts.[25][26]

Personal life

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Barto's son Will was also a member of the Memphis Tigers football team.[12]

On August 22, 2021, Danton died due to complications from COVID-19. He was 50.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Danton Barto". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Niceville football legend Danton Barto to have No. 55 ..." nwfdailynews.com. July 20, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Lamm, McKinsey (August 26, 2023). "Eagles Defense Scores Twice in Season Debut". midbaynews.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Danton Barto". gotigersgo.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Barnes, Evan (September 23, 2022). "Memphis football to retire Danton Barto's jersey at future home game this season". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Barnes, Evan (November 19, 2022). "Danton Barto's family, friends celebrate Memphis football retiring No. 59 jersey". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Transactions". The Day. August 18, 1994. p. 34. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Dispersal draft". The Province. March 8, 1996. p. 47. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "Transactions". The Macon Telegraph. June 5, 1996. p. 19. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Transactions". The Daily Times. March 27, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Rea, Larry (November 13, 2005). "Xplorers coach can relax in Bartlett". The Commercial Appeal. p. 152. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Barnes, Evan (August 23, 2021). "Former Memphis linebacker Danton Barto dies from COVID-19 complications". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  13. ^ "Barto named af2 Coach of the Year". oursportscentral.com. August 16, 2005. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  14. ^ "Xplorers Achieve Mission, Taking Time Out". arenafan.com. October 11, 2006. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Hernandez, Dylan (May 18, 2007). "Las Vegas Gladiators to drop coach after season". mercurynews.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Danton Barto". arenafan.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  17. ^ Pekarek, Andrew (July 17, 2008). "The af2 from top to bottom". arenafan.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  18. ^ "2008 Manchester Wolves". arenafan.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  19. ^ "Manchester Wolves sign Howard Gilmore". oursportscentral.com. November 24, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  20. ^ Stewart, Shea (March 9, 2010). "Diamonds hope to shine". arkansasonline.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  21. ^ "State sports briefs". wholehogsports.com. July 11, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "oursportscentral.com". oursportscentral.com. May 8, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  23. ^ Connor Ferguson (August 22, 2018). "Lehigh Valley Steelhawks up for sale". LastWordOnSports.com.
  24. ^ "2018 National Arena League Standings". statscrew.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  25. ^ Mayet, Larry (March 3, 2022). "Bears' Ackley wins award as one of NFL's top scouts". chicagobears.com. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  26. ^ "Inside The League: 14th Annual NFL Combine Seminar". si.com. February 25, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
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