Vincent DiGaetano Returns to Maritime as Head Football Coach
By: by Sean Engel, Sports Information Director
THROGGS NECK, N.Y. - On Monday Director of Athletics Kristofer Schnatz has announced the hiring of Vincent DiGaetano to fill the role of head football coach for the 2018 season. DiGaetano returns to Maritime after serving as an assistant coach with the program from its inception in 2005 through the 2015 season. "We are excited to have Coach DiGaetano re-join and lead our football program," said Schnatz. "His experience at Maritime, overall leadership skills and his obvious passion for the game will undoubtedly allow him to hit the ground running just days before our pre-season camp begins. Coach Dig's energy and enthusiasm will be a great addition to our athletics program and a perfect fit to lead our football program." DiGaetano comes back to Maritime after spending the spring and summer season with Division I Football Championship Subdivision members Fordham University as a special teams quality control assistant since April. Prior to Fordham, he served as an assistant for Wagner College for the 2016 and 2017 seasons after a one-year stint at Nassau Community College at the junior college level. A key contributor in the development of the Maritime program since its infancy in 2005, DiGaetano served as Privateers' Defensive Coordinator from 2008 through the 2014 campaign and has coached every defensive position group during his tenure. Prior to taking over the defense, he also served as the Special Teams Coordinator from 2005-07.
During his final season at Maritime, DiGaetano served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the 2014 season. In his final season running the Maritime defense, the team was ranked 21st amongst 252 NCAA Division III programs in total defense allowing just 285.1 yards per game during the season. Following the 2014 season DiGaetano was named a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year. He was later selected to serve as the Defensive Coordinator for the USA Select Team at the International Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Throughout his initial tenure with the Privateers, DiGaetano led 39 defensive student-athletes to Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) All-Conference honors, including 15 First Team honorees. He also coached Maritime's only Defensive Player of the Year, which came in successive seasons in 2010 and 2011. Defensive lineman Ricky McClain '13 was also selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his outstanding community service beyond the football field. McClain was recognized at the 2011 Allstate Sugar Bowl during an on-field halftime celebration. Away from Maritime, DiGaetano was named to the USA Football Master Trainer program, and was the only collegiate coach in the nation with the assignment as the majority of the staff was comprised of professional coaches. Recognized as a subject matter expert in the area of tackling, DiGaetano has presented this NFL sponsored program to many high school and youth football programs around. His efforts in this area are helping to create a better, safer game for players across the nation. DiGaetano was also in a feature segment on the NFL Network for his work with the USA Football Master Trainer program. Prior to his stop, DiGaetano spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, coaching two future NFL players in Ramon Guzman (Indianapolis Colts) and Dequan Mobley (New York Jets). A graduate of Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., DiGaetano earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology in 1999 and a Master's of Science in Education in 2001. DiGaetano was a standout defensive end for the Seahawks, lettering in each of his four years. A native of Island Park, N.Y., DiGaetano attended West Hempstead High School, where he lettered in football, track and lacrosse.