2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF

2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP Don Brown led UMass to a school-record 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF 13 wins in 2006. Don BROWN HEAD COACH Fourth Year as UMass Head Coach 11th Year as Head Coach Norwich ‘77

The 2006 season was one to remember for UMass head coach Don Brown. Now in his fourth year at the helm of the Minuteman Brown’s Coaching Honors football program, Brown led UMass to the national champion- 2006 AFCA Region I Coach of the Year ship game after capturing the Atlantic 10 Championship with a 2006 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year perfect 8-0 record, becoming the first undefeated conference 2006 Football Writers Coach of the Year team since Villanova in 1997. UMass tied the school record for 2006 Greater Boston Coach of the Year wins in a season with a 13-2 record and set 2002 AFCA Region I Coach of the Year a school-mark for wins in a row with 12. 2002 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year The Minutemen finished the season ranked 2002 New England Football Writers Coach of the Year No. 2 in the nation. 1995 Freedom Football Conf. Coach of the Year With the Massachusetts native in 1994 Freedom Football Conf. Coach of the Year charge, UMass also set a school record for wins at home, going a perfect 8-0 at 1994 AFCA Region I Coach of the Year McGuirk Stadium. That came along with 1993 Freedom Football Conf. Coach of the Year record crowds as close to 12,000 fans ing for him. came out each game. UMass had its A defensive mastermind and architect of the defense first sellout since 1973 when 17,000 that led UMass to the 1998 National Championship, the 2006 packed McGuirk for the New Hamp- UMass team led the nation in scoring defense until the final shire playoff game on Dec. 2, 2006. game, finishing fifth, giving up just 13.3 points per game. Brown was recognized nationally UMass ranked in the top three in the conference in six and regionally for the team’s accomplish- major defensive categories, leading in pass efficiency ments. He was named the 2006 AFCA Re- defense and net punting. Nationally, the Minutemen gion I Coach of the Year, 2006 Atlantic 10 ranked in the top 20 in nine statistics including the Coach of the Year and 2006 New England top 10 in scoring defense, net punting and pass effi- Football Coach of the Year. In leading UMass ciency. UMass’ defense flourished in the playoffs to the 2006 A-10 crown, Brown became the as it did not allow a point in the second half of its second coach to win the A-10 title with two first three playoff games. The Minutemen posted teams leading the Minutemen to the crown two shutouts of conference teams in the same this year after his title at Northeastern in season for the first time since 1979. 2002. Jim Reid was the first coach to do so UMass players reaped the rewards of at UMass and Richmond. Brown coached a the sensational season as five players were conference record 20 Atlantic 10 selections signed or invited to NFL training camps: in 2006 in leading the Minutemen to the title Baylark (Arizona Cardinals), Ihedigbo game. UMass featured five All-Americans in (New York Jets), Brandon London (New guard Matt Austin, tailback Steve Baylark, York Giants), Miller (Detroit Lions) and linebacker Jason Hatchell, safety James Thompson (St. Louis Rams). Ihedigbo and center Alex Miller. Baylark made Brown was named the 27th head coach in the 124- history as he became just the third player in year history of the UMass football program on February I-AA/FCS to rush for more then 1,000 yards in 9, 2004. Brown returned to UMass after four seasons as four different seasons with Austin, Miller and the head coach at . Recognized All-Conference guard David Thompson block- as one of the top defensive minds in ,

32 2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP Don Brown is the second 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF to be A-10 Coach of the Year with Brown’s Collegiate Coaching File two teams. Years School Assignment 1982 Dartmouth Assistant Coach 1983 Mansfield Assistant Coach 1984-86 Dartmouth Defensive Coordinator 1987-92 Yale Defensive Coordinator 1993-95 Plymouth State Head Coach 1996-97 Brown Defensive Coordinator 1998-99 Massachusetts Defensive Coordinator 2000-03 Northeastern Head Coach 2004-Pres. Massachusetts Head Coach he previously served as defensive coordinator for the Minute- men during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Brown has a 78-37 (.678) career mark, including a 26-11 (.703) mark in his three seasons at the helm of UMass. He coached his 100th career game in the 2005 regular-season finale at Hofstra. In 2005, Brown led the Minutemen to the nation’s top scor- ing defense as UMass allowed just 13.27 points per game. As UMass posted a 7-4 overall record and 6-2 in the A-10 North. The Minutemen led the Atlantic 10 in five defensive categories in- cluding scoring defense. They also led in net punting (38.35) – which led the nation; total yardage defense (261.18) – which ranked third nationally; passing defense (145.09)–– which ranked fifth nationally and pass efficiency defense (106.83). On the offensive side, UMass’ line allowed the fewest sacks in the A-10, just 1.0 per game, which was eighth in the nation. The Minutemen jumped out to a 7-2 start in 2005 and Don, wife Debe and granddaughter Lola celebrate the were ranked as high as fifth in the nation, finishing the year Lafayette playoff win. 19th in polls. UMass’ best win came over No. 4 James Madison first-team All-American and Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of Year and catapulted UMass to a No. 5 national ranking. The Minute- as well as being a finalist for the Buchanan Award. James led men also beat ranked Rhode Island and Delaware teams. The the nation in as a junior and finished his career in win at the Blue Hens, was their worst home loss in 20 years, a 2005 with more interceptions than any player in the nation at 35-7 Minuteman win. the time. The Minutemen led the Atlantic 10 in pass efficiency UMass featured two All-Americans and 10 All-Atlantic 10 defense while the offensive line led the country in fewest sacks players. Punter Christian Koegel was named the A-10 Special allowed per pass attempt (giving up nine on 344 pass attempts) Teams Player of the Year as well as a Walter Camp first-team as Baylark led the conference in rushing. All-American. Safety Shannon James was named a consensus first- Over his four seasons at Northeastern (2000-03), Brown team All-American for the second year in a row as well as being led a total transformation of the Huskies’ program. After taking a finalist for the Award’– as the top defensive over a team coming off a 2-9 record, with just two winning sea- player in Division I-AA — for the second year in a row. Joining sons in the previous 12 before his arrival, Brown led Northeast- Koegel and James on the A-10 First Team were Baylark, Miller ern to a 27-20 mark during his four seasons. The Huskies posted and defensive end Keron Williams. winning records each of his last two seasons, going a combined James, Williams and the versatile R.J. Cobbs were all in- 18-7 during that two-year span, and made the program’s first- vited to NFL training camps in 2006. ever NCAA playoff appearance. In his first season back with UMass as head coach in 2004, During the 2003 season, Brown led Northeastern to an Brown led the Minutemen to a 6-5 record winning four of the overall record of 8-4, and a third-place finish in the Atlantic 10 last five games. UMass’ late-season run elevated them to a sec- Conference with a 6-3 mark in league games. The eight victories ond place finish in the Atlantic 10’s North Division. Included in tied for the second-most in school history, while the Huskies the 4-1 stretch to close out the season was a 26-22 win at North- were the only team in the country to defeat eventual national eastern, which was an emotional game for Brown, as he had champion Delaware, posting a 24-14 victory over the Blue Hens recruited nearly every player on the Huskies’ roster. The Min- on November 8. Brown had Northeastern ranked at or near the utemen knocked off three teams ranked in the top 20 during the top of the Atlantic 10 in several statistical categories, including season including No. 4 Colgate, No. 7 New Hampshire and No. 19 total offense (first / 431.8 yards per game), scoring offense (sec- Maine. The win over UNH, was the 500th win in UMass football ond / 34.5 points per game), scoring defense (third / 18.2 points history per game) and total defense (fourth / 338.2 yards per game). Under Brown’s guidance, James was named a consensus The Huskies finished the season ranked 20th in the nation. Brown’s Year-By-Year Head Coaching Record Overall Conf. Conf. Year School Record Pct. Record Pct. Place Accomplishments 1993 Plymouth State 6-4 .600 5-1 .857 2nd 1994 Plymouth State 10-1 .909 6-0 1.000 1st Freedom Conference Champions / NCAA Division III Quarterfinals 1995 Plymouth State 9-1 .900 7-0 1.000 1st Freedom Conference Champions / NCAA Division III First Round 2000 Northeastern 4-7 .364 1-7 .125 10th 2001 Northeastern 5-6 .455 4-5 .444 6th 2002 Northeastern 10-3 .769 7-1 .875 1st Champions / NCAA Division I-AA First Round 2003 Northeastern 8-4 .667 6-3 .667 3rd 2004 MASSACHUSETTS 6-5 .556 4-4 .500 2nd 2005 MASSACHUSETTS 7-4 .636 6-2 .750 2nd 2006 MASSACHUSETTS 13-2 .867 8-0 1.000 1st NCAA Championship Game/ Atlantic 10 Conference Champions Career 10 Years 78-37 .678 54-23 .703 Four Conference Titles/Four NCAA Berths

2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP 33 Don Brown teams have outscored 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF opponents by In 2002, Brown led Northeastern to its best season in school 10 points history, as the Huskies went 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the Atlantic Don Brown vs. All Opponents per game. 10. Northeastern set a school single-season record for victories, Opponent W L PF PA while claiming a share of the Atlantic 10 title for the first time Albany 3 0 154 14 ever. In addition, the Huskies made their first-ever appearance American International 1 0 48 7 Appalachian State 0 1 17 28 in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, while playing in only the sec- Army 0 1 27 34 ond postseason game in school history. Northeastern ended the Boston College 0 1 7 29 year leading the Atlantic 10 in scoring offense (31.0 points per Bridgewater (Mass.) State 3 0 72 22 game), while ranking second in scoring defense (16.0 points per Colgate 2 1 72 44 game) and third in total defense (299.3 yards per game). Connecticut 1 0 35 27 After the Huskies finished the season ranked 11th in the Delaware 3 3 96 118 country, their highest-ever season-ending ranking, Brown re- Delaware State 1 0 51 0 ceived several coaching honors. He was selected as the 2002 Fordham 0 1 24 29 Harvard 1 2 57 77 Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year, the 2002 New England Hofstra 2 3 135 153 Football Writers Coach of the Year, and the 2002 American Foot- Holy Cross First Meeting ball Coaches Association Region I Coach of the Year. Ithaca 0 1 7 22 During his first two seasons at Northeastern, Brown laid James Madison 5 1 157 116 the groundwork for the success that would follow in 2002 and Lafayette 1 0 35 14 2003. During his first year, in 2000, the Huskies posted an over- Lock Haven (Pa.) 1 0 48 0 all record of 4-7, including an impressive 35-27 road victory over Maine 4 2 126 134 Division I-A Connecticut. In 2001, Brown’s squad improved to 5- Maine Maritime Academy 1 1 62 28 Massachusetts 1 3 92 83 6 overall with a 4-5 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Massachusetts-Dartmouth 2 0 68 0 Huskies finished the 2001 season ranked in the league in total Massachusetts-Lowell 3 0 105 23 defense (322.3 yards per game), pass defense (159.8 yards per Montana 1 0 19 17 game) and turnover margin (+0.6 turnovers per game). Navy 0 1 20 21 Prior to his time at Northeastern, Brown served as UMass’ New Hampshire 5 2 208 144 defensive coordinator under Mark Whipple during the 1998 and Norwich (Vt.) 3 0 108 57 1999 seasons. He helped UMass to two of the best seasons in Northeastern 3 0 60 22 school history, as the 1998 team posted an overall record of 12- Ohio 1 0 31 0 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 0 1 0 13 3 and won the Division I-AA national championship. The 1999 Rhode Island 4 3 209 166 season was also a successful one, as the Minutemen went 9-4 Richmond 4 1 109 51 overall, claimed a share of the Atlantic 10 title with a 7-1 mark St. Mary’s (Calif.) 1 0 40 13 in league games, and made a second straight trip to the Division Springfield (Mass.) 1 0 31 6 I-AA playoffs. UMass’ 21 victories during Brown’s two years as Stonehill (Mass.) 1 0 78 6 defensive coordinator set a school record for most wins during Stony Brook 4 0 131 59 any two year-span. Towson 1 0 35 0 During the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Brown served as Union (N.Y.) 0 1 7 24 U.S. Coast Guard Academy 3 0 60 30 Whipple’s defensive coordinator at Brown University. In 1997, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 1 0 19 18 the Bears posted an overall record of 7-3, matching the school’s Villanova 2 3 110 127 best record in 20 years. In addition, Brown’s 1997 defense led Western Connecticut State 3 0 97 36 the nation with a school record 28 interceptions, while ranking Wilkes (Pa.) 0 1 7 17 second in the country in takeaways (36) and holding opponents William & Mary 2 2 124 77 to just 19.4 points per game. Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2 1 86 63 From 1993-1995, Brown spent three seasons as the head Career Totals 78 37 3084 1969 coach at Plymouth State (N.H.) College. He led the Panthers to Average Points 26.8 17.1 a pair of Freedom Conference titles in 1994 and 1995, while posting an overall record of 25-6 (6-4 in 1993, 10-1 in 1994 and career started at Hartford High School in White River Junction, 9-1 in 1995). Brown was named Freedom Conference Coach of Vt., where he served as an assistant football coach and physical the Year during each of his three seasons, and led Plymouth education instructor from 1977-1982. State to a pair of Division III playoff appearances in 1994 and The 52-year old Brown (born July 31, 1955) is a native of 1995. In addition, he was named the Coaches Spencer, Mass., where he graduated from David Prouty High Association District I Coach of the Year in 1994. School. He is a 1977 graduate of Norwich University in Northfield, A native of Spencer, Mass., Brown began his collegiate Vt., where he starred as a running back for the Cadets’ football coaching career as an assistant at Dartmouth in 1982, helping team. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Plymouth the Big Green to the Ivy League title. He moved on to Mansfield State College in 1996. (Pa.) University as an assistant coach in 1983, before returning Brown and his wife, Deborah, reside in South Hadley. The to Dartmouth as defensive coordinator from 1984-1986. Brown couple has four children: Echo, Zachariah, Rana and Chelsea. then served as defensive coordinator at Yale from 1987-1992, Brown became a grandfather for the first time on November 4, helping lead the Elis to the 1989 Ivy League crown. His coaching 2004, as Lola was born prior to the game at Northeastern.

Don Brown accepts UMass’ Lambert Cup as the top team in the East in 2006.

34 2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP Kevin Morris coached 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF UMass’ offense to six games with 450 yards Kevin in 2006. MORRIS Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks Fourth Year at UMass Williams ‘86

Kevin Morris is in his fourth year as the offensive coordi- the Atlantic 10 Conference, breaking 24 school offensive records nator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Massachu- in four years. During the 2003 season, the Huskies led the At- setts. Morris came to UMass from Northeastern University, where lantic 10 Conference in total offense with an average of 431.8 he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for yards per game, while ranking second in scoring offense with four seasons (2000-03), making the move with Don Brown to an average of 34.5 points per contest and posting an overall UMass in 2004. record of 8-4. The Minutemen were one of the high-powered offenses A year earlier, in 2002, Morris’ offense led the Atlantic 10 in the nation in 2006 as they made a run to the National Cham- Conference with an average of 31.0 points per game, setting a pionship game and claimed the Atlantic 10 Championship. Morris new school scoring record. The Huskies also averaged 207.0 has tutored quarterback Liam Coen into one of the nation’s rushing yards per game in 2002, to rank second in the Atlantic best. He enters the 2007 season among the top five among all 10 and 19th in the nation. During the 2002 campaign, Morris active quarterbacks in pass efficiency and completion per- helped lead Northeastern to an overall record of 10-3, centage. Coen led the nation in pass efficiency for most a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference title and the of 2006 and finished sixth with a mark of 160.52. He school’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I-AA Play- threw for 3,016 yards the third-most in a season at offs. UMass and his 26 passes also ranked third Prior to his time at Northeastern, Morris served as in a single-season in UMass’ history. Coen is in the midst the offensive coordinator at Stony Brook in 1999, of re-writing the passing record book at UMass stand- helping the Seawolves to a 5-5 record in their inau- ing in the top five in every statistic after just two sea- gural season of competition at the Division I-AA sons of action. level. He was also the head coach at Worcester Poly- Under Morris’ guidance, UMass averaged close technic Institute from 1993-1998, leading the team to 28 points per game in 2006 including three to a 24-32 overall record. Morris’ 1993 team won the 40-point performances, the most since 1998. Freedom Football Conference title with a per- The Minutemen also piled up more than 450 fect 5-0 mark in league games. He guided the yards of total offense on six occasions in- Engineers to three winning seasons in his six cluding five in a row in the middle of their years as head coach. school-record 12-game win streak. During the 1991 and 1992 seasons, Morris UMass finished 12th in the nation in worked at Union College, where he total offense with more than 383 yards per served as the defensive coordinator in game and sixth in pass efficiency. On the 1992 and the secondary coach in 1991. offensive side, Morris headed up nine all- Morris was also the head coach of the conference performers led by tailback Steve Union lacrosse team in 1991, guiding Baylark, who led the A-10 in rushing and the team to an 8-5 record and a berth became the third player in I-AA/FCS history in the ECAC Playoffs. He was previ- to game 1,000 yards in four consecutive sea- ously the defensive coordinator at sons. Baylark gained most of those 5,332 ca- Worcester Polytechnic Institute in reer yards behind all-conference players Alex 1990, helping lead the team to an 8-0-1 record. Miller, David Thompson and Matt Austin. Those Morris also served as the quarterbacks and wide linemen led Baylark and protected Coen as receivers coach at Worcester Polytechnic Insti- UMass led the conference in fewest sacks al- tute in 1988 and 1989, while spending two sea- lowed for the third year in a row. sons as the running backs and quarterbacks In 2005, Morris worked with Coen as he coach at Albany (1986-1987). emerged as one of the Atlantic 10’s most ef- A 1986 graduate of Williams College, Mor- ficient passers taking over for Tim Day. Coen, ris played quarterback in addition to pitch- an A-10 three-time Rookie of the Week, fin- ing on the baseball team. He and his wife, ished with 2,175 yards, the second-most by Rebecca, reside in Belchertown with their a first-year quarterback in UMass history and son, Ryan (born March 20, 2000). sixth-best in a season, all-time. Morris’ of- fensive line was the top in the A-10 in terms of fewest sacks Morris’ Collegiate Coaching File allowed, just 11 in 11 games. Baylark once again was named to Years School Assignment the A-10 First Team as he gained 1,057 yards to rank third in the A-10. 1986-1987 Albany Running Backs / In his first year at UMass, Morris’ offense led the nation in Quarterbacks fewest sacks per pass attempt, giving up just nine as the line 1988-1989 Worcester Polytech Quarterbacks / protected Day, who produced one the best seasons for a UMass Wide Receivers signal caller. Day, posted the fifth-best passing yardage season 1990 Worcester Polytech Defensive Coordinator in Minuteman history, throwing for 2,481 yards along with 23 1991 Union Secondary , third-most in a UMass season. Day also posted the 1992 Union Defensive Coordinator most efficient single-game in history, completing 17-of-19 in 1993-1998 Worcester Polytech Head Coach the season opener at Delaware State. Baylark came on late in 1999 Stony Brook Offensive Coordinator the season to lead the Atlantic 10 in rushing with 1,138 yards 2000-2003 Northeastern Offensive Coordinator / earning first-team all-conference honors. Quarterbacks During his time on Don Brown’s staff at Northeastern, 2004-Pres. Massachusetts Offensive Coordinator / Morris directed one of the most explosive offensive attacks in Quarterbacks

2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP 35 Keith Dudzinski coached the starting 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF linebackers to 377 tackles in 2006. Keith DUDZINSKI Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Eighth Season at UMass New Haven ‘91

Keith Dudzinski enters the fourth season of his second Atlantic 10 selection Liam Ezekiel, who made 140 total tackles stint on the UMass coaching staff in 2007, as the defensive in 2003. During the 2002 season, the Huskies allowed oppo- coordinator and linebackers coach. Dudzinski, who previously nents only 299.3 total yards and 16.0 points per game, while in worked with the Minutemen from 1998-2001, returned to UMass 2003 they gave up just 338.2 total yards and 18.2 points per under Don Brown, after spending two years at Northeastern contest. During the 2002 campaign, Dudzinski helped lead North- University. eastern to an overall record of 10-3, a share of the Atlantic 10 UMass’ defense was impressive all season as the Minute- Conference title and the school’s first-ever trip to the NCAA men advanced to the National Championship game in 2006. Division I-AA Playoffs. The Minutemen led the nation in scoring defense until that During his first stint as an assistant coach at UMass under championship game, finishing fifth, giving up 13.33 points per Mark Whipple, Dudzinski served in a variety of roles on the game. The Minutemen finished in the top 20 nationally defensive side of the ball. He coached the secondary in in nine defensive statistics. 2001, the linebackers in 1999 and 2000, and the defen- Dudzinski worked directly with three all- sive line in 1998, in addition to directing UMass’ spe- conference linebackers in Jason Hatchell, cial teams from 1999-2001. Dudzinski guided the ca- Charles Walker and Brad Anderson. All reer of Kole Ayi, who was a two-time first team All- three players racked up more than 100 American and two-time Buck Buchanan Award final- tackles on the season. All-American ist under his direction. Hatchell, emerged as one of the Dudzinski first joined the UMass staff af- nation’s top tacklers as he fin- ter spending four years at Brown under ished second in the conference Whipple as the defensive line coach for with 134 stops. Walker and the Bears. Dudzinski helped the Brown Anderson each earned Second- defense hold opponents to just 194 Team All-Conference as they total points during the 1997 season racked up 131 and 112 tackles, (19.4 points per game) respectively. On defense, UMass — the fewest number of points al- had eight all-conference picks, lowed by the school in 10 years. most of any school as part of the While at Brown, he helped de- all-time conference record 20 hon- velop two-time first-team All- orees. Ivy defensive tackle Brendan During the 2005 season, Finneran (1996 and 1997). Dudzinski coached UMass to the top Prior to coming to defense in the nation in terms of few- Brown, Dudzinski was a de- est points allowed per game, giving fensive assistant at New Ha- up just 13.27 per contest. The Min- ven under Whipple for three utemen led the A-10 in five defensive years (1991-93), working with the out- categories as they ranked in the top side linebackers. He has also worked as an as- nation’s top five in four of those statis- sistant coach at Kolbe Cathedral High School in tics. UMass topped the conference in Bridgeport, Conn., and St. Joseph’s High School total yardage defense, passing de- in Trumbull, Conn. fense, pass efficiency defense and Dudzinski is a 1991 graduate of the Uni- net punting along with scoring de- versity of New Haven, where he was an All-New fense. England linebacker and team captain as a senior. Working with the linebackers, He and his wife, Kathy, reside in Belchertown with he coached two A-10 second-team their son, Jack (born April 13, 1996), and two honorees in two-time team captain daughters, Mary Kathryn (born March 19, 1998) and Serge Tikum and Hatchell, who led Elizabeth (born November 10, 2003). UMass in tackles with 107 – to rank eighth in the league. The defense also included two-time con- sensus first-team All-American Shannon James and all-league Dudzinski’s Collegiate Coaching File selections defensive end Keron Williams and safety James Years School Assignment Ihedigbo. 1991-93 New Haven Outside Linebackers In 2004, Dudzinski headed up a UMass defense which fea- 1994-97 Brown Defensive Line tured consensus first-team All-American Shannon James, who 1998 Massachusetts Defensive Line led the nation in interceptions. With the linebacker corps, 1999-00 Massachusetts Linebackers / Dudzinski coached a group that included Tikum and Walker, Special Teams who tied the UMass school record for tackles in a game with 23 vs. Delaware on Sept. 25, 2004. 2001 Massachusetts Secondary / In 2002 and 2003, Dudzinski spent two seasons as line- Special Teams backers coach at Northeastern under Don Brown, in addition to 2002 Northeastern Linebackers serving as defensive coordinator in 2003. He directed the ca- 2003 Northeastern Defensive Coordinator / reer of first team All-American and two-time first team All- Linebackers 2004-Pres. Massachusetts Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers

36 2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP Brian Picucci’s O-Line has 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF allowed the fewest sacks in the A-10 the last Brian 3 years. PICUCCI Run-Game Coordinator/ Offensive Line Sixth Year at UMass Syracuse ‘94

Brian Picucci enters the fourth season of his second stint aged 207.0 rushing yards per game, to rank second in the At- on the UMass coaching staff in 2007. Picucci, who previously lantic 10 and 19th in the nation. During the 2002 campaign, worked with the Minutemen from 1998-99, returned to UMass Picucci helped lead Northeastern to an overall record of 10-3, after spending four years at Northeastern University. a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference title and the school’s Under Piccuci’s guidance, UMass has led the conference first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. in fewest sacks allowed for each of the last three seasons. During his first stint as an assistant coach at UMass under Over the last three seasons since Picucci returned to UMass, Mark Whipple, Picucci worked with the defensive tackles and the Minutemen have allowed just 37 sacks in 37 games, a tre- linebackers for one year (1999) and the offensive line for one mendous 1.0 per game, one of the nation’s best marks. In 2006, season (1998). In 1999, Picucci helped direct a defensive unit UMass allowed 1.07 sacks per game, 14th in the nation. which led the Atlantic 10 in sacks (36), while ranking second in As UMass worked all the way to the 2006 National Cham- total defense (323.5 yards per game). During the 1998 season, pionship game, Picucci coached four all-conference lineman. Picucci assisted with a UMass offense that set 18 All-American Alex Miller was named an all-conference pick for team single season records, including points the third year in a row. Guard Matt Austin was also named an scored (524) and total yards (7,074). All-American as well as a First-Team All-A-10 selection. They Picucci came to UMass in 1998 after serv- were joined by second-team honorees David Thompson and ing as offensive coordinator at Bristol Nick Diana. (Conn.) Central High School for three That quartet along with Chris Hopkins, led the way years. In 1997, Picucci helped Bristol Cen- for All-American and record-setting tailback Steve Baylark. tral set school single-season records for to- The Arizona Cardinals’ signee became the third I-AA/FCS tal offense (3,876 yards), passing yards (1,435 player to gain more than 1,000 yard in four consecutive yards) and passing touchdowns (18). Prior to seasons. He finished second all-time in rushing yards working at Bristol Central, he served as tight at UMass with 5,332 with Miller and Thompson ends coach at Southern Connecticut State blocking for him in all 50 career games. for one season (1994). Thompson signed a free agent contract A 1994 graduate of Syracuse with the St. Louis Rams and Miller had University, Picucci was a three- a tryout with the Detroit Lions. year letterwinner for the In 2005, the Minutemen led Orangemen. He played full- the A-10 in fewest sacks allowed, back for his first three sea- giving up just 11 in 11 games for sons at Syracuse, before 1.0 per game’— tied for eighth starting at tight end in his in the nation. Picucci worked senior year. Picucci was a with the A-10’s first-team cen- member of four victorious ter Miller as well as second- bowl teams during his team A-10 selection Brent undergraduate career Caldwell. The rushing attack (1989 Peach, 1990 led by A-10 first-team tailback Aloha, 1991 Hall of Fame Baylark, who picked up 133.2 and 1992 Fiesta). yards per game as he finished third in the A native of A-10 in rushing yards. Leominster, Mass., Back in 2004, the offensive line led Picucci is single and the country in fewest sacks allowed per resides in Hadley. pass attempt (giving up nine on 344 pass attempts). Picucci helped set up Baylark, who led the Atlantic 10 in rushing, earn- ing A-10 first team honors. UMass’ running game picked up 138.8 yards per game, led by Baylark, who had 103.4 per game. Leading the way for Picucci’s Collegiate Coaching File Baylark was A-10 first team lineman Rob Kane. Years School Assignment Picucci served as offensive line coach at Northeastern 1994 So. Connecticut Tight Ends under Don Brown for four years (2000-03), and added the re- 1998 Massachusetts Grad. Asst. / Off. Line sponsibility of run-game coordinator for the 2002 and 2003 sea- 1999 Massachusetts Defensive Tackles / sons. In 2003, Picucci directed a rushing offense which totaled Linebackers 242.2 yards per contest, to rank second in the Atlantic 10 con- 2000-01 Northeastern Offensive Line ference and ninth in the country. In 2002, the Huskies aver- 2002-03 Northeastern Run-Game Coordinator / Offensive Line 2004-Pres. Massachusetts Run-Game Coordinator / Offensive Line

2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP 37 Guido Falbo worked as a guest coach with the 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2007. Guido FALBO Recruiting Coordinator/ Running Backs Fourth Year at UMass Central Connecticut ‘97

Guido Falbo is entering his fourth season on Don Brown’s tant coach at Syracuse University, working with the offense. coaching staff, and second as recruiting co- During the 1999 season, he worked at Western Connecticut ordinator and running backs coach. In his first State, where he served as the linebackers coach and helped two years, Falbo coached UMass’ tight ends. the Colonials to a 10-2 record, the Freedom Conference title Falbo assumed his new roles in January 2006 and the second NCAA playoff berth in school history. and helped UMass to one of the top recruit- Previously, Falbo spent a year as a graduate assistant ing classes in the nation each of the last coach working with the secondary at California (Pa.), served two years. one season as the outside linebackers coach at Princeton, In the summer of 2007, Falbo worked as and spent a year as the secondary coach at Maine Mari- a guest coach with the Canadian Football time Academy. League’s Calgary Stampeders where Falbo is a 1997 graduate of Central Con- UMass alums Shannon James and necticut State University. During his days as an Keron Williams are starters. undergraduate, he was a three-year starter at In 2006, Falbo worked with one strong safety for the Blue Devils from 1993- of the all-time greatest I-AA/FCS 1995. He also served as a student assis- tailbacks in Steve Baylark. The Ari- tant coach for Central Connecticut State zona Cardinals’ signee and All-Ameri- in the spring of 1996, following the can became the third I-AA/FCS player completion of his playing career. to gain 1,000 yards in four consecu- A native of Norwalk, Conn., tive seasons. He finished with 5,332 Falbo is married to Stephanie. The career rushing yards, second all-time couple welcomed their first child to Marcel Shipp. Baylark was Stephen Justin on Dec. 21, 2006, just named an A-10 First-Team after to the National Championship tailback for the third year in a game in Chattanooga. row. From 2004-05 Falbo devel- oped tight ends Mike Douglas, Chris Hopkins and Ian Jorgensen. Falbo came to UMass after spend- ing two seasons at the University of Rhode Island (2002-03). He served as the wide receivers coach at Rhode Island for two years, and added the responsibility of recruiting coordinator in 2003. Prior to that, Falbo spent one year at St. Lawrence University, where he served as defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and head strength and conditioning coach. In 2000, Falbo was a graduate assis-

Falbo’s Collegiate Coaching File Years School Assignment 1996 Maine Maritime Secondary 1997 Princeton Outside Linebackers 1998 California (Pa.) Grad. Assistant / Secondary 1999 W. Connecticut Linebackers 2000 Syracuse Graduate Assistant 2001 St. Lawrence Defensive Coordinator 2002 Rhode Island Wide Receivers 2003 Rhode IslandRecruiting Coordinator / Wide Receivers 2004-2005 Massachusetts Tight Ends 2006-Pres. Massachusetts Recruiting Coordinator/ Running Backs

38 2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP Brian Crist returns to 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF UMass where he coached from Brian Sean 1996-2001. CRIST SPENCER Wide Receivers Defensive Line/ Sixth Year Special Teams at UMass Fourth Year Hampden-Sydney ‘94 at UMass Clarion ‘95

Brian Crist returns to UMass for his second stint with the Sean Spencer returned to the UMass football program in 2007 Minutemen, as the wide receivers coach. He worked at UMass as the defensive line/special teams coach. He previously coached from 1996-2001 and was on the staff during the 1998 National at UMass in the 2001-03 seasons as the defensive line coach. Championship season. Spencer has spent five of the last six years coaching in the Atlantic Crist comes back to UMass from the University of Louisiana 10 (which morphed into the CAA in 2007). at Lafayette where he spent five seasons as the Passing Game Spencer spent the 2006 season at Hofstra University where Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach (2002-2006). he was the defensive line coach for the Pride. He also served as During his time with Louisiana-Lafayette, he helped coach the team’s NFL Liaison in addition to his coaching duties. his team to become the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Champions. In the summer of 2006, Spencer took part in an NFL summer He also aided in leading the Ragin’ Cajuns to back-to-back internship with the New York Jets. six-win seasons, the first time in over 10 years for the team Prior to Hofstra, Spencer served as linebackers coach at to do so. He coached the school’s second all-time leading Villanova University in 2005 where he coached All-American Brian receiver in yards and receptions. He tutored three of the top Hulea. seven leading receivers in school history as well as working Spencer also spent one season at the College of Holy Cross with all-conference receivers in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He where he served as defensive line coach in 2004. Before his stint also coached one of only two 1000-yard receivers in the at Holy Cross, Spencer served as the defensive line coach at school’s history and helped the team finish in the top 15 UMass from 2001 through 2003. In his final season in Amherst, nationally in rushing offence in 2005 and 2006. the Minutemen finish second in the Atlantic 10 in sacks with 34. Prior to ULL, Crist spent six seasons with UMass. He served Under Spencer’s tutelage, three linemen earned all-conference in a variety of roles with the Minutemen in his first stint. He honors including Minutemen defensive standout Vladamar Brower, worked as an assistant working with the quarterbacks, wide who earned All-America honors and was a Buck Buchanan Award receivers, tight ends, punters and kickoff return team. He finalist. During his first season, Spencer helped UMass to rank was a part of the 1998 National Championship staff in working sixth in the league with 26 sacks. with the tight ends. At UMass, he coached three All-Americans Spencer also coached at Trinity College from 1998 through and helped recruit two additional All-Americans. 2000 where he was the running backs coach and pass game In 1998, Crist helped Kerry Taylor develop into one of the coordinator in 1999 before becoming the defensive line in coach nation’s top tight ends, with Taylor catching 74 passes for 2000, Shippensburg University from 1996 854 yards and earning first team All-America honors. In 1999, to 1998 as running backs coach, and Crist guided Sean Higgins to a season where he caught 51 Wesleyan University from 1995 passes for 615 yards and was named a first team All-American. and 1996 as the wide receiver Crist coached both wide receivers and tight ends during his and tight ends coach. first two seasons and helped revive the UMass passing game Spencer, a three-year that ranked last in the nation in 1995. In 1996, his first season starter at free safety at with the Minutemen, Crist molded a young corps of receivers Clarion University, was who averaged 133.0 yards receiving per game, an increase of named to the 1992 89.1 yards over the previous year. NCAA Division II Crist came to UMass after serving as a graduate assistant Preseason All- coach under Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech for two seasons America team by (1994 and 1995). Crist spent the majority of his time working The Sporting News. with the Hokie wide receivers and coaching the scout teams. He earned a bachelor’s He also analyzed opponents’ defenses to assist in strategies degree in political science in and assisted the coaching staff with personnel substitutions 1995. on game day. A member of the American In 1995, he helped Virginia Tech post a 10-2 record and Football Coaches Association, claim a piece of the Big East Conference regular season Spencer served as the AFCA championship. The Hokies went on to record a 28-10 victory District One Minority over Texas in the Nokia Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve and Committee Representative concluded the season ranked 10th in the final Associated Press from 1999-2002. Spencer has national poll. served as a clinician at numerous A 1994 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia camps including the Frank Glazier with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Crist was a two- Clinic. A native of Hartford, Conn., year starter at quarterback. Spencer has a daughter, Alysia (3). Spencer’s Collegiate Coaching File Years School Assignment Crist’s Collegiate Coaching File 1995 Wesleyan Wide Receivers Years School Assignment 1996-1998 Shippensburg Running Backs 1994-1995 Virginia Tech Wide Receivers Assistant 1999 Trinity Running Backs 1996-2001 Massachusetts Quarterbacks/ 2000 Trinity Defensive Line Wide Receivers/ 2001-03 Massachusetts Defensive Line Tight Ends/Spec. Teams 2004 Holy Cross Defensive Line 2002-2006 Louisiana-Lafayette Passing Game Coord./ 2005 Villanova Linebackers Wide Receivers 2006 Hofstra Defensive Line 2007 Massachusetts Wide Receivers Coach 2007 Massachusetts Defensive Line / Special Teams 2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP 39 Mike Wood coaches 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF Preseason All-American A native of Franklin Lakes, New tight end Jersey, he played at St. Joseph’s Brad Listorti Mike Regional High School. Militello earned 10 letters overall, includ- ing three in both football and la- WOOD crosse, and four in powerlifting. He led the football team to league Tight Ends championship, state champi- onship, top ranking in Second Year New Jersey and a No. 7 at UMass ranking in the USA Today national poll. McDaniel ‘01 He earned his B.S. from Northeastern in criminal justice Mike Wood begins his second season at UMass as tight in 2005. ends coach. In 2006, Wood tutored tight end Brad Listorti as he earned Second-Team All-Conference honors. Listorti emerged as one of the nation’s top tight ends with 38 catches. He enters 2007 with a 14-game pass-catch streak. Listorti has been named a preseason All-American by Street & Smith’s. Before coming to UMass, Wood served as an assistant coach at Gettysburg College in 2002, 2004 and 2005. He spent Militello’s Collegiate Coaching File the 2002, 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Bullets wrapped Years School Assignment around a season with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent 2005 Massachusetts Asst. Dir. Operations 2005 season as Gettysburg’s Special Teams Coordinator/Tight 2006-Pres. Massachusetts Asst. Linebackers Ends/Offensive Line Assistant Coach after serving as the Special Teams/Defensive Line/Strength Coach in 2004 with the Bullets. He was also a member of the 2002 staff, coaching the outside linebackers that season. Damian Between his years at Gettysburg, he served as an Intern Special Teams Coach/Strength and Conditioning coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2003 season. MINCEY As a student-athlete at Western Maryland College’— now McDaniel College — in Westminster, Maryland, he was an Asst. Linebackers outside linebacker on four consecutive Centennial Conference championship teams. He graduated from McDaniel in 2001 Second Year with a degree in sociology and spent the 2001 football season at UMass as an assistant coach at the Charter School of Wilmington. A native of Wilmington, Del., Wood and his wife Katie New Haven ‘02 reside in Northampton.

Wood’s Coaching File Damian Mincey begins his second season as the assistant Years School Assignment linebackers coach at UMass. Mincey joined the Minutemen in 2002 Gettysburg Outside Linebackers the summer of 2006 and aided Keith Dudzinski in coaching a trio 2003 Jacksonville Jaguars Intern Special Teams/ of all-conference linebackers. Jason Hatchell, Charles Walker, Strength & Conditioning and Brad Anderson combined to pile up nearly 400 tackles, as 2004 Gettysburg Special Teams/Def. Line/ the Minutemen reached the National Championship game. Strength & Conditioning Mincey came to UMass after serving as an assistant football 2005 Gettysburg Special Teams Coordinator/ coach at his alma mater Passaic High School in New Jersey from 2004-05. He worked in a variety of roles at Passaic including Tight Ends/Off. Line Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach, Assistant 2006-Pres. Massachusetts Tight Ends Offensive Line Coach and Strength & Conditioning Coach. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of New Haven where he Stephen earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication. He played for the Chargers for four seasons. He was MILITELLO an offensive lineman from 1999-2001 and played his Asst. Def. Line final season on the defensive line where he Second Year made 14 tackles. at UMass In high school at Passaic, he was a Northeastern ‘05 decorated player earning All-County by the Star-Ledger, Stephen Militello in his second season as UMass’ assistant Herald and News & defensive line coach. In 2006, he worked with pair of all-con- Record. He was ference players in David Burris and John Hatchell. Overall, he also a PrepStar and is in his third year with the Minutemen. He was involved with played in the East- the football program for the 2005 season as an assistant to the West All-Star Game. director operations. He is a 2005 graduate from Northeastern University where he was a member of the football team from Mincey’s Collegiate Coaching File 2000-04 playing defensive end for current UMass coach Don Years School Assignment Brown, during the 2000-03 seasons before Brown departed in 2006-Pres. Massachusetts Asst. Linebackers 2004. Militello also worked in various roles at Northeastern with the men’s basketball team as a student assistant and well as part of the Huskies’ grounds crew. 40 2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF Mike Hodges has worked at UMass for the UMass track & field program since the 2000-2001 season. During last 30 years. his collegiate coaching career, Otrando coached one NCAA Mike champion, seven All-Americans and two Olympic trials qualifiers. Otrando himself was a 1984 Olympic trials qualifier in the shot put, and holds the world indoor record (53’11”) in the masters HODGES 45-49 age group. He ranked No. 1 in the world in the shot put master’s ranking in 2002, and captured the national title at the 1998 and 2000 USA National Masters for the 40-45 age group. Director of Otrando served as the National Chairman for USA Track & Operations Field men’s shot put from 1991-1995. During this time, U.S. athletes claimed the gold and silver medals in the shot put at the 30th Year at 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In addition, Otrando was a coach at the 1991 Olympic Festival, the 1993 World University Games and the UMass 2003 Pan American Games. He has had several articles pertaining Maine ‘67 to training and performance published in track & field magazines. Otrando graduated from Northeastern University in 1979, and was inducted into the Northeastern University Hall of Fame in Mike Hodges is in his fifth season as director of football May of 1999. operations for the Minutemen, and his 30th year overall at UMass. He is responsible for coordinating team travel, organizing team purchases and allotments, scheduling practice times and budgeting Jeff expenditures. Hodges previously served as UMass’ assistant athletic director for student employment and alumni affairs, spending five years on the administrative staff. He was in charge of the student-athlete SMITH employment program, and also served as director of the UMass Varsity M Club. Assoc. A.D./ Before moving into administration, Hodges served as UMass’ head football coach for six seasons. He compiled an overall record Sports Medicine of 34-31 with the Minutemen, and his 34 victories rank sixth on Seventh Year the all-time UMass coaching list. He had four winning seasons in his six years, including a 7-3 mark in 1992 and a 9-2 record in at UMass 1993. Hodges was named New England Division I Coach of the Year in 1992, when UMass had a seven-game winning streak. UCLA ‘91 Hodges also spent 14 years as an assistant on the Minuteman staff, before taking over as UMass’ head coach in 1992. He coached Jeff Smith is in his seventh year as associate athletic director under Bob Pickett (1978-1983) and Bob Stull (1984-1985), then for sports medicine at UMass. In addition to his administrative served as defensive coordinator under Jim Reid (1986-1991). responsibilities, including overseeing medical coverage, treatment Hodges received his bachelor of science degree in education and rehabilitation of some 600 student-athletes, Smith serves as from the University of Maine in 1967. He lettered in football for the day-to-day athletic trainer for the football team. two years at guard and was a member of the 1965 Yankee In 2005, Smith added the responsibilities as a sport Conference championship team which played in the Tangerine administrator as he oversees the track & field and rowing programs Bowl. Hodges received his master’s degree in education from Maine at UMass. in 1968. Smith came to UMass from the University of California at Hodges and his wife, Susan, reside in Amherst. The couple Los Angeles, where he worked for three years. Smith spent his has two daughters (Jen and Karen, who are both UMass graduates). first year at UCLA as an assistant athletic trainer, before being They have six grandchildren: Jordan and Marisa Flores; Trevor, promoted to associate athletic trainer in 1999. During his last Riley, Jackson and Michael Huntington. two seasons, he served as the athletic trainer for the football and men’s and women’s track teams, in addition to being the director of UCLA’s student athletic trainer internship program. During his Bob first year with the Bruins, Smith was the athletic trainer for the men’s basketball, men’s water polo and men’s tennis teams. Prior to his time at UCLA, Smith spent five seasons at the OTRANDO University of Denver, including four years as director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer. He oversaw the rehabilitation Strength & and welfare of athletes in all 18 of Denver’s varsity sports, while working directly with the ice hockey team. Conditioning Coach Smith previously worked at UMass from 1991-1993, serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. He worked with the men’s 15th Year soccer and baseball teams, while also serving as a teaching at UMass assistant in the Department of Exercise Science. A 1991 graduate of UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Northeastern ‘79 kinesiology, Smith earned his master’s degree in exercise science from UMass in 1993. He and his wife Justine welcomed the couple’s Entering his 15th year with the University of Massachusetts, first child Jacob on May 3, 2006. Smith also has two sons, Brendan Bob Otrando has become one of the most valuable people in the and Ryan. UMass athletic department. Otrando supervises the strength and conditioning program for some 600 student-athletes who compete in UMass’ 23 varsity sports, and recently designed the school’s Bill new 9,000-square foot strength and conditioning facility, which opened in May of 2003. Since Otrando arrived at UMass, 14 football players who he SISLER trained with have gone on to sign professional contracts. He currently serves as the state representative for the National Video Coordinator Association of Speed and Explosion. Otrando is a featured writer for the NASE. Eighth Year Virtually every coach who has worked with Otrando credits him with preparing their respective teams for a full season of all- at UMass out competition, both in practice and on game day. Otrando was named the 1994-1995 Atlantic 10 Conference Strength and James Madison ‘95 Conditioning Professional of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Otrando came to UMass from the New England Patriots staff, Bill Sisler is in his eighth year on the UMass football staff as where he served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach video coordinator. He is responsible for coordinating, managing from 1992 to 1993 under Dick MacPherson. Prior to his stint with and supervising all video operations for the football program. Sisler the Patriots, he was an assistant track & field coach at the handles all video taping of practices and games, and also University of Washington (1986-1992), Kent University (1985-1986) coordinates recruiting videos for the use of the coaching staff. and Brown University (1984-1985). He has also assisted with the

2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP 41 Bill Sisler heads up 2007 UMass Football • COACHING STAFF all video duties for UMass Prior to his arrival at UMass, Sisler served as the video football. coordinator for all sports at the University of Memphis for three years. He supervised all video activities for the athletic Anthony department, including filming of games and practices for most sports, breaking down film and coordinating video exchanges. Sisler also oversaw a staff of student workers in the video office. CATTERTON Previously, Sisler spent two years as a graduate assistant in video operations for the Memphis football and men’s and women’s Asst. Strength & basketball teams. He also served as video coordinator for the football team at James Madison University for four years during Conditioning Coach his days as an undergraduate student. A member of the Collegiate Video Directors Association and 11th Year at UMass the American Football Coaches Association, Sisler earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from James Madison UMass ‘97 in 1995. He also worked on a master’s degree in film and video at Memphis. Sisler and his wife, Jennie, reside in Sunderland. Anthony Catterton is in his 11th year with the UMass Athletic Department. He serves as the Assistant Director of the Strength and Conditioning program. A former quarterback for the Minutemen Lance from 1994-97, Catterton was elevated to Assistant Director in 2005 after serving as Assistant Strength Coach since 1997. A certified member of the Collegiate Strength and OVERBY Conditioning Coaches Association, the native of Columbus, Ga., works with many of the Olympic Sport programs at UMass. Academic Counselor Catterton also assists with overseeing the strength and conditioning efforts of the Minuteman football team. Fifth Year at UMass Joyce UMass ‘00 GORMAN Lance Overby is in his fifth year with the UMass athletic department, serving as academic counselor for the football team. Football He is responsible for tutoring, academic achievement, counseling, Secretary planning programs for career achievement. Overby spent the 2002 season as an assistant wide receivers 13th Year coach at Northeastern, helping the Huskies to an overall record of 10-3 and a share of the Atlantic 10 title working under Coach at UMass Don Brown. During the 2001 season, Overby served as a graduate assistant coach at St. Francis (PA) while completing his masters in Ed/Leadership. Joyce Gorman is in her 13th season as secretary for the UMass In 2000, Overby graduated with a degree in Educational football program, and has worked for UMass’ last three head Studies and had a minor in Psychology. While coming back for his coaches (Mike Hodges, Mark Whipple and Don Brown). Among her last year Overby was a graduate student, and a four-year responsibilities, she maintains coach Brown’s appointments, letterwinner for the Minutemen as a defensive back. He totaled manages the office environment, types practice plans and other 152 tackles, three interceptions, five sacks and 13 pass breakups documents, maintains the player database, facilitates compliance during his collegiate career, while helping UMass win the NCAA paperwork, prepares expense vouchers and supports the 11 Division I-AA national championship in 1998, and as Atlantic 10 coaches in the program. She also supervises student workers, who Conference title in 1999. maintain the recruit database and prepare mailings. A Staten Island, N.Y. native, Overby resides in Enfield, Conn. A former teacher and social worker, Gorman received her bachelor’s degree from the Elms College in Chicopee, Mass. She Paul resides in Granby. BYS Jason Certified YELLIN Equipment Mgr. Asst. A.D./ 12th Year Media Relations at UMass Fourth Year at UMass

Paul Bys enters his 12th season as senior equipment manager Stony Brook ‘96 at the University of Massachusetts. He is involved with all athletic equipment purchasing, budgeting, reconditioning, uniform sizing, Jason Yellin is in his fourth year at UMass as the Assistant maintenance and inventory control. In addition, he oversees all Athletic Director/Media Relations. He serves the media contact game day preparations for equipment and locker room facilities for the men’s basketball, football and men’s lacrosse programs. for all home and away games. He came to UMass after spending six years at the University of Bys is certified by the Athletic Equipment Manager’s Maryland, finishing his time with the Terrapins as the Associate Association and is a member of the National Football Foundation Media Relations Director. and College Hall of Fame. At Maryland from 1998-2004, Yellin served Athletic Media Prior to coming to UMass, Bys spent 25 years in the food Relations Office in a variety of roles. During his time, he worked service industry at Shop-Rite supermarkets. During this tenure, with the Terrapins' 27-sport program, including the nationally- he held management positions in Springfield, Mass.; Holyoke, ranked football, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's Mass.; and Manchester, Conn., prior to his retirement in January lacrosse and soccer programs. of 1994. Prior to his time at Maryland, Yellin spent two years at ESPN. A 1971 graduate of Chicopee High School, he earned his He was involved with ESPN.com and was the Team Pages editor. associate’s degree in law enforcement at Holyoke Community Yellin graduated from Stony Brook in 1996. His wife, Jennifer, College in 1973. A resident of Feeding Hills, Mass., Bys and his is also a Stony Brook grad where she was a collegiate swimmer. wife, Donna, have one daughter, Alyssa, who graduated from UMass The couple resides in South Hadley with their daughter, Hailey with a Bachelors of Science in Human Nutrition in May 2005. (5) and son, Quinn (1). 42 2006 NATIONAL FINALISTS • 2006 ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONS • 2006 LAMBERT CUP