# Danton Barto

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

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

## College career

Barto played college football at Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) from 1990 to 1993. He was redshirted by the Tigers in 1989.
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.
He was inducted into the University of Memphis M-Club Hall of Fame in 2007. 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. After undergoing a formal process, Barto's No. 59 jersey was retired by the school in November 2022. As of September 23, 2022, the petition had garnered 2,319 signatures.

## Professional career

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.
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.
He was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL in the 1996 dispersal draft in early March 1996. He was later released by the team in early June without appearing in any games.
He signed with the Connecticut Coyotes of the Arena Football League (AFL) in late March 1996. Barto played in two games for the Coyotes during the 1996 season as a fullback/linebacker, recording one solo tackle and one assisted tackle.

## Coaching career

Barto was the defensive coordinator of the Memphis Xplorers of the af2 during their inaugural season in 2001. He then served as the team's head coach from 2002 to 2006. In 2005, he was named the af2 Coach of the Year and won ArenaCup VI. The Xplorers folded after the 2006 season.
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. Barto and the Gladiators went on to finish the year with a 2–14 record.
He was the head coach of the af2's Manchester Wolves from 2008 to 2009. The Wolves went 9–7 in the 2008 regular season, and lost in the American Conference championship game to the Tennessee Valley Vipers.
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.
Barto was the head coach of the Kansas City Command of the AFL from 2011 to 2012, compiling an overall record of 9–27.
He was the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the National Arena League (NAL) in 2018. The team went 0–15 and folded after the season.

### Head coaching record

| Team | Year | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Postseason | Postseason | Postseason | Postseason |
| Team | Year | 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 | 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 | 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 | Kansas City total | 9 | 27 | .250 | | - | - | - | |
| Lehigh Valley | 2018 | 0 | 15 | .000 | 6th in NAL | - | - | - | |
| Total | Total | 83 | 110 | .430 | | 8 | 5 | .615 | |

## Scouting career

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

## Personal life

Barto's son Will was also a member of the Memphis Tigers football team.
On August 22, 2021, Danton died due to complications from COVID-19. He was 50.