On eve of spring practice, Coen finalizes Lehigh coaching staff
3/20/2014 11:12:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With its spring practice segment set to begin tomorrow, Lehigh head coach Andy Coen has finalized the Mountain Hawks' coaching staff. Coen has added four new coaches to the staff and also added the title of defensive coordinator to inside linebackers coach Joe Bottiglieri.
On the defensive side of the ball, Coen has named Craig Sutyak defensive backs coach and Jay Ridinger assistant defensive backs coach. On offense, Scott Brisson returns to the Lehigh coaching staff to assume to roles of wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, while Andy Marino joins the staff and will work with the tight ends.
"I am very excited to welcome these four new coaches to our staff," said Coen. "These men are all proven teachers of the game of football. They are passionate about the game and will do a great job connecting with our student-athletes. These men coach for all the right reasons they will help our players grow as leaders, and help them develop on and off the field as people."
Entering his second season back on the Lehigh coaching staff, Bottiglieri returns to the coordinator position he held in his first stint with the Mountain Hawks when he was defensive coordinator for Lehigh's Patriot League Championship teams in 1998 and 1999.
"I believe Joe Bottiglieri will do a great job coordinating our defense," Coen said. "He has a great record of success as a defensive coordinator and brings a wealth of knowledge and proven leadership to our defense. Joe is one the best coaches I have been around in my career and I look forward to he and our defensive staff working together to build a top notch defense."
Both additions on the defensive side come to Lehigh from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.
Sutyak spent the last eight seasons as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at F&M, where his units were among the stingiest in the Centennial Conference. In eight seasons, his defensive players earned 27 All-Centennial Conference honors.
In 2013, Sutyak's defense featured three All-ECAC South performers and ranked third in the Centennial Conference in pass
defense.
Prior to his stint at F&M, Sutyak spent two seasons at Fordham where he worked with the secondary and kickoff team. A 2001 graduate of Dickinson College with a degree in Psychology, Sutyak earned his Masters of Education from Edinboro in 2003. He started his coaching career with a two-year stint at Allegheny College.
Ridinger spent the last two seasons on the Franklin & Marshall coaching staff. A former standout wide receiver for the Diplomats, Ridinger worked with F&M's wide receivers in 2012 before shifting over to the secondary in 2013. He worked alongside Sutyak with a secondary group that included first team All-Centennial Conference performers at both cornerback and safety.
A four-year starter at wide receiver for the Diplomats, Ridinger was a team captain and All-Conference performer as a senior. Prior to beginning his college coaching career at F&M, Ridinger spent one season on the coaching staff at Manheim Township High School in Lancaster.
On Lehigh's defensive staff, Donnie Roberts returns as defensive line coach, while Mark Surma moves from assistant defensive backs to outside linebackers.
Brisson returns to Lehigh following a four year period in which he enjoyed successful coaching stints at St. Lawrence University and Lycoming College.
In his first stint at Lehigh, Brisson worked with Lehigh's running backs and wide receivers in 2008 and 2009. Among his pupils were record-setting wide receivers Jake Drwal '12 and Ryan Spadola '13, who both rank in the top ten in school history for career receptions and receiving yards. Spadola finished his Lehigh career ranked second in school annals in both categories and is entering his second NFL season as a member of the Miami Dolphins.
In 2010, Brisson moved on to St. Lawrence where he served as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator. He was instrumental in leading the program to its first conference championship in school history and its first playoff appearance since 1982. Brisson spent the last two seasons at Lycoming where he held the same duties and added the responsibility of the wide receivers as well. He helped lead Lycoming to the 2013 MAC Championship and was instrumental in the development of a record-setting quarterback and two standout wide receivers.
Prior to his first stint at Lehigh, Brisson spent two seasons as the wide receivers coach at Franklin & Marshall.
A wide receiver at Bowdoin College in Maine, Brisson graduated in 2006 with degrees in Government and Sociology.
Marino comes to Lehigh from Widener University where he spent last season working with the offensive line. He also held titles of Assistant Head Coach, Recruiting Coordinator and Run Game Coordinator. He mentored one All-Conference lineman while his offensive line paved the way for the conference's top scoring offense.
Prior to his stint at Widener, Marino spent three years on the coaching staff at Delaware where he spent two seasons as an offensive graduate assistant before working with the tight ends and tackles in 2012.
Marino has familiarity with the Lehigh Valley as he spent one season as the offensive line coach at Whitehall High School.
A 2009 graduate of Lycoming College with a degree in History, Marino was a three-year starter and a two-year team captain on the offensive line. He added a Master's in Higher Education Administration from Delaware in 2012.
The rest of Lehigh's offensive staff includes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Drew Folmar, offensive line coach and run game coordinator Brett Sawyer, and Jamel Mutunga, who will work with the running backs.
Lehigh will begin its spring practice segment Friday. The annual Brown and White Spring Game is set for Saturday April 19 at 10 a.m. inside Goodman Stadium.
On the defensive side of the ball, Coen has named Craig Sutyak defensive backs coach and Jay Ridinger assistant defensive backs coach. On offense, Scott Brisson returns to the Lehigh coaching staff to assume to roles of wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, while Andy Marino joins the staff and will work with the tight ends.
"I am very excited to welcome these four new coaches to our staff," said Coen. "These men are all proven teachers of the game of football. They are passionate about the game and will do a great job connecting with our student-athletes. These men coach for all the right reasons they will help our players grow as leaders, and help them develop on and off the field as people."
"I believe Joe Bottiglieri will do a great job coordinating our defense," Coen said. "He has a great record of success as a defensive coordinator and brings a wealth of knowledge and proven leadership to our defense. Joe is one the best coaches I have been around in my career and I look forward to he and our defensive staff working together to build a top notch defense."
Both additions on the defensive side come to Lehigh from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.
In 2013, Sutyak's defense featured three All-ECAC South performers and ranked third in the Centennial Conference in pass
Prior to his stint at F&M, Sutyak spent two seasons at Fordham where he worked with the secondary and kickoff team. A 2001 graduate of Dickinson College with a degree in Psychology, Sutyak earned his Masters of Education from Edinboro in 2003. He started his coaching career with a two-year stint at Allegheny College.
Ridinger spent the last two seasons on the Franklin & Marshall coaching staff. A former standout wide receiver for the Diplomats, Ridinger worked with F&M's wide receivers in 2012 before shifting over to the secondary in 2013. He worked alongside Sutyak with a secondary group that included first team All-Centennial Conference performers at both cornerback and safety.
A four-year starter at wide receiver for the Diplomats, Ridinger was a team captain and All-Conference performer as a senior. Prior to beginning his college coaching career at F&M, Ridinger spent one season on the coaching staff at Manheim Township High School in Lancaster.
On Lehigh's defensive staff, Donnie Roberts returns as defensive line coach, while Mark Surma moves from assistant defensive backs to outside linebackers.
Brisson returns to Lehigh following a four year period in which he enjoyed successful coaching stints at St. Lawrence University and Lycoming College.
In his first stint at Lehigh, Brisson worked with Lehigh's running backs and wide receivers in 2008 and 2009. Among his pupils were record-setting wide receivers Jake Drwal '12 and Ryan Spadola '13, who both rank in the top ten in school history for career receptions and receiving yards. Spadola finished his Lehigh career ranked second in school annals in both categories and is entering his second NFL season as a member of the Miami Dolphins.
In 2010, Brisson moved on to St. Lawrence where he served as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator. He was instrumental in leading the program to its first conference championship in school history and its first playoff appearance since 1982. Brisson spent the last two seasons at Lycoming where he held the same duties and added the responsibility of the wide receivers as well. He helped lead Lycoming to the 2013 MAC Championship and was instrumental in the development of a record-setting quarterback and two standout wide receivers.
Prior to his first stint at Lehigh, Brisson spent two seasons as the wide receivers coach at Franklin & Marshall.
A wide receiver at Bowdoin College in Maine, Brisson graduated in 2006 with degrees in Government and Sociology.
Prior to his stint at Widener, Marino spent three years on the coaching staff at Delaware where he spent two seasons as an offensive graduate assistant before working with the tight ends and tackles in 2012.
Marino has familiarity with the Lehigh Valley as he spent one season as the offensive line coach at Whitehall High School.
A 2009 graduate of Lycoming College with a degree in History, Marino was a three-year starter and a two-year team captain on the offensive line. He added a Master's in Higher Education Administration from Delaware in 2012.
The rest of Lehigh's offensive staff includes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Drew Folmar, offensive line coach and run game coordinator Brett Sawyer, and Jamel Mutunga, who will work with the running backs.
Lehigh will begin its spring practice segment Friday. The annual Brown and White Spring Game is set for Saturday April 19 at 10 a.m. inside Goodman Stadium.
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