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]
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
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]
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
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]
