Central Michigan hires Lions' Bonamego as coach

Feb 8, 2015 - 11:02 PM Mount Pleasant, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Central Michigan plucked its new head football coach from the NFL.

The school announced Sunday that Detroit Lions special teams coordinator John Bonamego will take over for Dan Enos, who resigned last month to become the offensive coordinator at Arkansas.

Bonamego, 51, played for Central Michigan in the mid-1980s as a quarterback and wide receiver, first as a walk-on and later as a varsity letter winner.

He is the first Central Michigan alum to lead the football program since Bill Kelly from 1951-66.

"John has all the traits we wanted," Chippewas athletic director Dave Heeke said in a statement. "He has an extraordinary passion for Central Michigan. John knows how fantastic this university and community are, and he understands the responsibility that comes with being our head coach."

Bonamego, who coached the Lions' special teams the past two seasons, met with the team on Sunday and will be formally introduced during a news conference on Monday. He spent 16 years as an NFL assistant.

Enos spent five seasons as Chippewas coach, leading them to two bowl games and a 26-36 record.