Joel Dolinski

Early life and high school

Dolinski was raised in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, Beaver County. A 1993 graduate of Ambridge Area High School where he was a National Honor Society student while participating in track and field, volleyball, and football. Playing for head football coach Frank Antonini, Dolinski was an All Conference (MAC) offensive and defensive lineman and an All State offensive lineman earning a scholarship to play football at the University of Cincinnati.

Playing career

While earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from the University of Cincinnati, Dolinski was a four-year letterman, from 1994 to 1997 after redshirting in 1993, and three-year starter at offensive line for the Bearcats. As a junior, Dolinski earned Second Team All Conference USA honors and as a senior he helped lead the Bearcats to the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl. It was Cincinnati's first bowl appearance in 47 years. The Bearcats won 35–19 over the Utah State Aggies. Dolinski was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity as well as Men of Metro and Sigma Sigma Honorary organizations while at Cincinnati.

Coaching career

Dolinski began his coaching career in 1998 as offensive line coach at Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, an NCAA Division III school. As offensive line coach for the Bison, Bethany produced a 1,000-yard rusher in Tim Caldwell, and gave up one of the fewest sacks against totals in school history. He also tutored freshman center Geno Ochap, to all conference honors.

In 1999, Dolinski returned to the University of Cincinnati. At Cincinnati, he served as the offensive graduate assistant coach where he coached the tight ends and assisted with coaching the offensive line. Dolinski was on the coaching staff for the 1999, 2000, and 2001 seasons. The Bearcats made back-to-back Motor City Bowl appearances in the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

After earning a Master of Education degree in educational foundations December 2001 from the University of Cincinnati, Dolinski spent three years (2002–2004) working in athletic administration with the Bearcat basketball team and head coach Bob Huggins before returning to coaching on the football field.

In 2005, Dolinski joined head football coach Chris Snyder's staff at Seton Hill University for the inaugural football season. Dolinski served as the offensive line coach as well as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) compliance coordinator for all sports. In 2006, Dolinski had run game coordinator added to his offensive line coaching duties. In 2007, Dolinski was promoted to offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, where the Griffin offense saw large improvements in all major offensive categories including a conference low sacks against (6 in 299 attempts).

In 2008, Seton Hill became a full NCAA Division II member from their provisional membership in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, Snyder stepped down from his football coaching duties to focus on his obligations as executive athletic director at Seton Hill. That allowed Dolinski to take over as the second head football coach at Seton Hill.