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 Head Coach
Rich Mannello
570-208-5900, ext. 5378
football@kings.edu
The challenge of building a college football program from the ground up could very well
be the most difficult task any coach at any level could face.
King's head coach Rich Mannello began the Monarch program in 1991,
believing challenges bring on
opportunities. As the clay is to the sculptor, Mannello's opportunity
to mold his own program into a coveted piece of art has taken shape
as the Monarchs have emerged as a respected perennial contender in
the nationally-respected Middle Atlantic Conference.
In his 17th year with the Monarchs, Mannello has
steadily laid the foundation for success at King's through a
tireless commitment and undying enthusiasm that few can match.
That commitment reached its apex in 2002 when the Monarchs won their
first Middle Atlantic Conference title and advanced to the NCAA
Division III National Playoff "Sweet 16". Combine
consecutive ECAC Southeast Region titles in 2000 and 2001, as well as
a ECAC runner-up finish in 2003 and 2006 and Mannello
has clearly built the Monarchs from nothing to something special.
Mannello earned the respect of his peers when he was named the MAC
"Coach of the Year" in 2000 and again in 2002.
A 1979 graduate of Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Connecticut, Mannello enjoyed
an outstanding football career, serving as team captain, while earning all-league,
all-city, and team most valuable player honors as a senior.
He continued his academic-athletic career at NCAA Division II Springfield College,
Springfield, Mass. As a rookie, he was named captain of the freshman team where he earned
most valuable player honors and went on to become a three-year varsity starter as an
offensive guard. As a senior, Mannello served as a tri-captain and was honored with team
most valuable player and All-New England honors. He graduated from Springfield in 1983
with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. Mannello has
since been named to the Springfield College All-Decade Team.
Mannello then joined the Springfield sidelines as a graduate assistant where he served
as head coach of the freshman program for one season. A year later, he was promoted to the
varsity defensive line coaching position and then took on the inside linebacker coaching
job the following year. During this time, Mannello continued his studies, earning his
master of education degree in 1985.
In 1987, Mannello was promoted to coach the offensive line, and, a year later, was also
awarded the position of offensive coordinator, which he held for two years.
In 1989, Mannello became the quarterback-fullback coach at Division IAA Northeastern
University, a position he held until his arrival at King's.
In beginning the King's program in 1991 at the junior varsity level, Mannello led the
Monarchs to a 3-3 record. In 1992, the squad finished 4-5 after Mannello upgraded his
team's schedule to prepare King's for its 1993 NCAA Division III, MAC varsity debut.
Since then, significant progress has been made as the Monarchs continue to improve in
all aspects of the game. With Mannello as the driving force behind a Monarch program which
refuses to take shortcuts, the continual growth of King's football within the MAC is
clearly evident.
In 2000, King's captured its first post-season title ever when the
Monarchs won the Eastern College Athletic Conference Southern Region
title. The Monarchs would repeat with a second straight ECAC crown the
following year before winning the MAC title in 2002. The Monarchs
would again receive an ECAC berth in 2003, marking the program's
fourth straight post-season appearance.
Aside from his duties as head coach, Mannello also serves as King's offensive line
coach where he has produced three MAC "Offensive Lineman of the
Year" since 1999. His wide variety of position coaching experience has provided him with the
knowledge and expertise to successfully orchestrate a "team" coaching concept.
Since King's made its NCAA Division III varsity debut in 1993,
Mannello has produced 89 MAC All-Stars along with nine NCAA
Division III All-Americans.
He has also created the highly successful "Big Men Only"
Football Camp for offensive and defensive linemen. Information
can be obtained at www.bigmenonly.com.
Mannello is also regarded as an outstanding motivator and is a frequent guest speaker on
the football banquet circuit.
Last Updated: 7/27/2007
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 Associate
Head
Coach
Jim Anderson
570-208-5900, ext. 5379
football@kings.edu
Assistant Coach Jim
Anderson has been with King's since the program's inception in 1991
and serves as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, strength coach, and head of player
recruitment. Anderson's belief is that a football team wins with defense first, and his
successful background supports this philosophy. His philosophy
was confirmed in 2002 when he was selected as the NCAA Division III
Defensive Coordinator of the Year" by American Football
Monthly Magazine.
He is a 1982 graduate of Concord-Carlisle High School in Concord, Mass., where he was
an all-league selection in 1981. Anderson then enrolled at Springfield College where he
went on to enjoy an outstanding collegiate career. As a senior middle linebacker, he
served as a team tri-captain and was named Springfield's most valuable player, while
earning All-New England laurels. Anderson then received his highest honor as a Kodak
Division II All-America first-team selection. Anderson has since been
named to the Springfield College All-Decade Team.
Anderson earned his bachelor of science degree in physical
education in 1985 before attending graduate school at Springfield the following year,
where his coaching experience began. In 1986, he served as head freshman coach and was
promoted to graduate assistant varsity coach the following year. For two seasons, he
coached the inside linebackers at Springfield while earning his master of education degree
in athletic administration in 1988.
Division I-AA Lehigh University was the next step up the coaching ladder for Anderson,
where he was responsible for the outside linebackers for one season. Returning to
Springfield, he coached the offensive line and offensive special teams for one season. The
following year, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator
prior to his arrival at King's.
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 Assistant Coach
Nick Ametrano
football@kings.eduServing as
quarterback/receiver’s coach, Nick Ametrano enters his 17th
season at King's, having been with the program since its inception
in 1991. Ametrano’s vast experience also includes eight years
as an assistant at Wilkes University, two years at Wyoming
Seminary, and six years at Bishop Hoban, where he coached the East squad in the UNICO
All-Star Game in 1981.
Ametrano is a 1971 graduate of Plains High School (now Wilkes-Barre Coughlin), where he
was an all-league selection. He enrolled at Wilkes University and was a four-year varsity performer
as a tight end. Ametrano earned his bachelor of arts degree in political science from
Wilkes in 1975.
Ametrano's daughter Jess is a 2001 King's graduate and was a
standout member of the Lady Monarch field hockey team where she
served as a team captain. She was an MAC all-star as a senior in
2000 while twice earning MAC All-Academic honors.
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 Assistant
Coach
Tom Oldziejewski
football@kings.eduTom Oldziejewski enters his
12th year
as a member of the King's staff where he coaches the defensive linemen. A 1973 graduate of
Wilkes-Barre G.A.R. High School where he was an all-state selection and played in the Big
33 Game, Oldziejewski received a four-year football scholarship to Penn State University,
graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1977.
He served as an assistant coach at G.A.R. from 1978-80; Wyoming Valley West from
1980-81; and Tunkhannock from 1982-83. He then took over the head coaching reigns at
Tunkhannock from 1983-95. He was a three-time Wyoming Valley Conference "Coach of the
Year".
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 Assistant
Coach
Rich Gorgone
football@kings.edu
Entering his third year with the
Monarchs is assistant coach is Rich Gorgone. Coach
Gorgone, who is responsible for the running backs, came to King's
in 2004 with 30 years of prior coaching experience. He
spent five years as assistant coach at Morris Knolls High School
in NJ, then added five more years as the defensive coordinator
at Wilkes University. Gorgone then spent twenty years as
the head coach at nearby Lake-Lehman High School where he
amassed 127 wins, including a PIAA District 2 title in
1997. He was named Wyoming Valley Conference Coach of the
Year on three occasions and coached seven times in the annual
UNICO All-Star Game. He also spent four years as director
of athletics at Lake Lehman.
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 Assistant
Coach
Jan Cechak
football@kings.edu
Entering his second year with
the Monarchs is assistant coach Jan Cechak, who will work with the tight
ends and offensive tackles. Coach Cechak owns a wealth
of experience at both the collegiate and high school levels.
He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Trenton
Central High School from 1985-1988. He then moved on to an
assistant coaching position at Harry S. Truman High School from
1989-90. Cechak was then promoted to head coach at Truman from
1991-97 and was selected the Bucks County Courier Times
"Coach of the Year" in 1996. He was also selected to serve as
head coach of the Lions All-Star Classic on three occasions.
Cechak then moved on to an assistant coaching position at his
alma-mater, Neshaminy High School, before securing the head
coaching position at Tunkhannock Area High School from
1999-2001. He would then move on to Wilkes University
where he served as an assistant coach, working with the
defensive line, from 2002-2004.
Most recently, Cechak was the defensive line coach at Towanda
High School for the 2005 season, prior to his arrival at King's.
Cechak is a 1979 graduate of Neshaminy High School and is a 1983
graduate of Millersville University. He is employed full-time as
a Tech-Ed teacher in the Tunkhannock Area High School. He is
married to his wife Deborah for 21 years and the couple have
three sons, Gregory (20), a junior at Bloomsburg University;
Thomas (19), serving in the Navy; and Charles (17) a junior at
Tunkhannock High School.
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 Assistant
Coach
Dwayne Downing
football@kings.edu
Joining the King's staff in 2007 is Dwayne
Downing. Coach Downing comes to King's with a wealth of playing
and coaching experience. In 1986, he was a defensive back on the
Penn State University national championship team and played in
the 1985 Orange Bowl, the 1986 Fiesta Bowl, and the 1987 Citrus
Bowl. He graduated from Penn State with a degree in Commercial
Recreation and Park Management.
Downing comes to King's after a
distinguished head coaching career at Bishop Hoban High School
where he engineered a remarkable turnaround. After taking over a
program that had produced just eight victories over the course
of 10 years, Downing led the squad to an undefeated
regular-season and conference championship in just his third
season at the helm. In 2004, he was honored as the Wyoming
Valley Conference "Coach of the Year." He will coach the
defensive backs at King's.
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 Assistant
Coach
Matt Carre
football@kings.edu
Matt Carre joins the Monarch staff in 2007 where he will
serve as an intern assistant coach. Carre comes to King's after
concluding a fine career at the University of Pennsylvania where
he earned second-team All-Ivy League honors as a senior wide
receiver in 2006. Carre, who earned Ivy League "Offensive Player
of the Week" honors as a senior, concluded his time at Penn
ranking sixth all-time with 1,450 receiving yards; eighth with
93 catches; and ninth with 10 receiving touchdowns. He graduated
from Penn in 2007 with a degree in Elementary Education.
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 Assistant
Coach
Jon Poppe
football@kings.edu
Also joining the
King's staff in 2007 is intern assistant coach Jonathan Poppe
who comes to King's after starting the past three years at
defensive back at Williams College. As a senior, Poppe helped
lead the team to the 2006 NESCAC championship and was named
first-team all-conference at cornerback while earning a spot on
the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-East Region Team. He
graduated from Williams in 2007 with a degree in History.
Profiles last updated August 7, 2007 |
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