John Dabney is in his fourth season as Running Backs Coach for the Truman State Bulldogs, joining the staff in 2022. A 2023 inductee into the Missouri Football Coaches' Association Hall of Fame, Dabney brings over three decades of coaching experience and a proven track record of developing championship-caliber programs.
At Truman State
Dabney has helped establish one of the most dominant rushing attacks in the GLVC during his tenure with the Bulldogs. In 2024, the offense rushed for 2,216 yards (2nd GLVC/22nd nationally) at 184.7 yards per game while averaging 5.0 yards per carry (2nd GLVC/19th nationally). The 2025 season saw even greater success, as the Bulldogs led the GLVC in rushing with 2,431 yards (1st GLVC/19th nationally) at 202.6 yards per game and 5.71 yards per carry (1st GLVC/13th nationally).
Under Dabney's guidance, the running backs room has produced exceptional talent. In 2025, Denim Cook rushed for 970 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Elijah Stevens added 423 yards and 6 touchdowns at 7.6 yards per carry. Dylan Hair contributed 745 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns from the quarterback position. The rushing attack was instrumental in the Bulldogs earning their first post-season playoff berth in 31 years in 2025, while the offense averaged 34.4 points per game (2nd GLVC/27th nationally).
Coaching Career Highlights
Prior to joining Truman State, Dabney served as head football coach at Milan C-2 High School for 16 years (2006-2021), establishing himself as one of Missouri's premier high school coaches. His achievements include:
Championships & Winning Streaks:
- Four consecutive undefeated and untied regular seasons (2011-2014)
- 41-game regular season win streak and 21-game Tri Rivers Conference winning streak
- Tri Rivers Conference Champions (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
- Grand River Conference Champions (2018, 2020)
- District Champions (2011)
- Sectional Finalists (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
- Led Milan to its first-ever undefeated regular season in 2011 and fifth undefeated regular season (10-1) in school history in 2018
Individual Honors:
- Missouri Football Coaches' Association Hall of Fame (2023)
- Missouri Football Coaches' Association Pete Adkins Power of Influence Award (2013)
- American Football Coaches' Association National Finalist Power of Influence Award (2013, 2014, 2015)
- Tri Rivers Conference Football Coach of the Year (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
- AP NEMO Class 1 District Coach of the Year (2011, 2018)
- Kirksville Daily Express Football Coach of the Year (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018)
- 2016 Missouri Lions Club All Star Game Head Coach (Gold Team) - won by the largest margin of victory in the 40-year history of the game
At Milan, Dabney also served as head baseball coach (2008-2021), leading the Wildcats to Tri Rivers Conference Championships in 2009 and serving as head coach for the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches' Association Senior All Star Games (2017, 2019) and assistant coach for the Missouri vs. Illinois High School Baseball Game (2018).
Before Milan, Dabney spent 11 years at Knox County High School in Edina, Missouri (1994-2005), serving as head football coach, head baseball coach, and head weightlifting coach. At Knox County, he won District 11 Football Champions (1995), earned Kirksville Daily Express Football Coach of the Year (1995), and led baseball to Tri-Rivers Championships (1997, 1999, 2002, 2004), earning Tri-Rivers Baseball Coach of the Year honors those same years. He was named Knox County R-1 Inclusion Teacher of the Year in 1996 and 1997. During this time, Dabney organized the Josh Pinson Weight Lifting Competition (1993-2005), which became the largest weight meet in Missouri with over 300 participants from the tri-state area of Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.
Dabney began his coaching career as an assistant varsity football coach at his alma mater, Culver-Stockton College (1992-1993), where he served as running backs coach, JV head coach, and assisted with study table and recruiting.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
Dabney authored "Ways to Win Off Tackle" published in Coach and Athletic Director magazine (November 2000). He has been a featured speaker at the Missouri Football Coaches' Association Summer Clinic (2007), Tri-State Coaches Clinic (2014 inaugural year), Pro Bowl Clinic (2016), and Southeast Iowa Coaches Clinic (2022).
Professional Leadership
Dabney has served on the Missouri Football Coaches' Association Board since 2004 and has been Class 1 All State Chairman since 2007 (Co-Chair 2003-2006). He serves on the State of Football in Missouri Committee (2018-present) and has been President of the Northeast Missouri Football Coaches Association since 2004. He is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association (2009-present) and serves as the MFCA representative for the Brain Injury Association of Missouri (2015-present).
Education & Playing Career
Dabney earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Culver-Stockton College in May 1992, where he earned a varsity letter (1990-91) and received the Wildcat Award for Outstanding Dedication (1991). He previously attended Quincy College (now Quincy University) from 1987-1989, earning varsity letters and serving as Intramural Director in 1989.
Personal
A native of Edina, Missouri, Dabney is married to Andrea (Ryan) Dabney and they have three children: sons Ryan and Dominic, who both played football for the Bulldogs in recent years, and daughter Marian. Dabney comes from a Truman State football legacy. His father, LaVerne "Horse" Dabney, was inducted into the Truman State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986 and was named to the All-Century Team in 1999. Horse Dabney was a three-sport athlete at Truman State and his legacy continues through John's coaching career and his sons' playing careers with the Bulldogs.
