Published: January 18, 2012
Post University Selects Mike Mannetti As Head Sprint Football Coach
WATERBURY, Conn. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - On Wednesday morning, Post
University named Mike Mannetti as the new head coach of its sprint
football team. The second head coach in program history, Mannetti
previously served as the Eagles' offensive coordinator during the
program's inaugural season in 2010. He brings 13 seasons of coaching
experience in Waterbury to Post. As per university policy, terms of the
deal were not disclosed.
"I'm excited and honored to rejoin the Post University family," Mannetti
said. "In just two seasons, Post University has grown its sprint
football program into something the institution and community can be
proud of. I look forward to the opportunity to recruit excellent
student-athletes and develop them into honorable young men on and off
the field."
Mannetti was the program's inaugural offensive coordinator during the
2010 campaign, when the team beat Princeton University, and lost to
Army, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania. The team ran a
multiple spread offense, which ranked fourth in the Collegiate Sprint
Football League (CSFL) with 243.5 yards per contest during its four-game
season. Mannetti mentored the running backs and quarterbacks as well.
The running backs averaged 3.8 yards per attempt. He recruited
student-athletes from Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
"Since we added sprint football as a varsity program, our
student-athletes have been able to compete against some of the most
well-known universities in the nation," said Athletic Director Anthony
Fallacaro. "After two solid seasons of competitive play, I know Mike
[Mannetti] is the right man to take our program to the next level based
on his first stint at Post, and his long history as a winning football
coach. I trust his ability to recruit and retain a top-notch group of
student-athletes who will represent the university well during their
time at Post University and after they graduate."
Post University is one of two universities in New England to compete in
the prestigious CSFL program, which competes in an eight-week season
following NCAA football rules with the exception that student-athletes
must weigh 172 pounds or less. "The CSFL program at Post is designed to
strengthen the leadership, communication, and teamwork skills of
student-athletes who have a burning desire to play football at the
college level," added Fallacaro.
During his ten seasons as a coach at Holy Cross High School in
Waterbury, the Crusaders compiled a record of 83-25. Most recently he
served as the defensive coordinator during the 2011 campaign, a season
when the Crusaders were named the 2011 Naugatuck Valley League (NVL)
Copper Champions with an unblemished 6-0 league record. Holy Cross
boasted a 9-1 record overall during the season. Mannetti's defense
ranked second in the conference and ninth in the state in total points
allowed (117), average points allowed (15.0) and average yards per game
(278.5). The group amassed 32 takeaways and scored seven touchdowns.
Individually, four defensive players were named All-State by the
Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA).
Mannetti specifically worked with the offensive line from 2004-09, a
group which helped to produce seven 1,000-yd. rushers, while two
quarterbacks threw for over 2,300 yards in a season. He was elevated to
the Holy Cross offensive coordinator for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns,
where he implemented a spread offense.
Scholastically, Mannetti played offensive line for the Crusaders from
1994-97, where he was a two-time All-City choice. Holy Cross went 12-1
and appeared in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference
(CIAC) Class L Final during the 1996 season. The group rushed for more
than 3,000 yards, including two performances of 400 rushing yards or
more in a single game. The Crusaders were named city champions, NVL
Large Division and NVL Champions. A team captain as a senior, Mannetti
was a named All-Conference and All-State. He also earned the team's Most
Dedicated award.
"This is a very exciting time at Post University," said Tom Samph,
Ph.D., president and CEO of Post University. "The improvements we have
made to everything from academics to athletics have helped us continue
to build on the tremendous momentum we've been enjoying as a University.
We look forward to working with the city to further rebuild, revitalize
and invest in our campus and in the city, making Waterbury an ever
greater place to live, grow a business and get a superb education."
The Post University sprint football team won two games during the 2011
season, including a 48-0 shutout over Princeton. The Eagles return four
Second Team All-CSFL performers including junior wide receiver Dan Awwad
(Waterbury, Conn.), sophomore linebacker Christopher Lopez (Waterbury,
Conn.) and defensive linemen sophomore Matt Santos (Waterbury, Conn.)
and Charles May (Fort Myers, Fla.).
For the latest on Post's 16 intercollegiate athletic programs, log on to www.PostEagles.com.
About Post University
Founded in 1890, Post University is a student-focused, career-driven
university committed to providing students with the knowledge, personal
skills and experience required to be leaders in their chosen fields.
Located in Waterbury, Conn., Post University provides a wide array of
degree programs for on-campus and online students of all ages. It is
known for its quality, career-driven academic programs, small classes,
and competitive NCAA Division II athletics. Its more than 9,000 full-
and part-time students come from the United States and abroad, and are
supported by faculty whose mission is to prepare students to compete and
succeed in today's global workplace. To learn more about Post
University, visit www.Post.edu or
call 800-345-2562.
What They're Saying About Mike Mannetti...
Jerry Ciarleglio - Holy Cross High School Athletic Director
"We're very happy for Mike and we think this is a great opportunity for
him. We know he will do well. He is very thorough and works very hard at
being a good coach. I think Post University is going to love him."
Michael Giampetruzzi - Holy Cross High School Head Football Coach
"I think Mike is one of the best high school coaches in the area. He is
very knowledgeable with 'the X's and O's.' He puts in a lot of time and
is committed to succeeding. Mike is going to be loyal to the kids he
brings in. He wants kids who have high character, and who will be
successful on the field and in the classroom."
Scott Allen - Post University Chief Financial Officer
"In keeping with our initiative of improving the quality of athletics,
Mike's familiarity with sprint football and Post University made him the
perfect fit. As a member of the search committee, he spoke properly with
respect to the ability to recruit quality student-athletes, and he had
the most passion and enthusiasm to go along with his coaching
experience. All of these factors put him head and shoulders above the
field."
Post Sports Information
Andy Alongi, 203-596-4500 ext. 4533
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