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University of Massachusets Athletics
Harasymiak Announces Staff Additions
January 02, 2025 | Football
Head Coach Joe Harasymiak is building out the football staff
Jeremy Larkin, Running Backs // Jan. 9, 2025
Jeremy Larkin joins the Massachusetts football staff as the running backs coach in January 2025 after spending two seasons at Youngstown State.
While at Youngstown, Larkin helped the Penguins rank fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total rushing offense two years in a row. Also, in his two seasons, he saw three players earn four MVFC honors, including a 1,000-yard rusher, who was selected a MVFC Honorable Mention (2024), a Second Team MVFC (2023) and a MVFC Newcomer Team (2023). He had two top 10 MVFC running backs rush for 650-plus yards with nine touchdowns each in the 2023 season. Larkin also helped the Penguins advance to the 2023 FCS playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Additionally, in May of 2024, Larkin spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League as an NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow. There, he observed and worked with NFL full-time running back and wide receiver coaches, while assisting with drill work and skill development.
Prior to his time at YSU, Larkin was a defensive back analyst at Notre Dame under head coach Marcus Freeman during the 2022 campaign. The Fighting Irish posted a 9-4 record and capped off the year with a victory over South Carolina in the Gator Bowl.
During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he was a defensive graduate assistant at Northwestern. In 2020, the Wildcats reached the Big Ten title game, finishing with a 7-2 overall record. The program ended the season with a win over Auburn in the Citrus Bowl.
As an undergraduate at Northwestern, Larkin was a running back for the program, competing in 16 games from 2016-18, before retiring from the sport midway through the 2018 season. In his final two seasons, he transitioned into a student-assistant coaching role.
Larkin, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, earned his bachelor's in education and social policy from Northwestern in 2020 and his master's in sports administration in 2022.
Kurt Anderson, Offensive Line // Jan. 8, 2025
Kurt Anderson came to Amherst in January 2025 after most recently serving as an offensive line coach at Northwestern for six years.
At Northwestern, Anderson played a role in the development of two first round NFL Draft picks in Peter Skoronski (2023 – Tennessee Titans) and Rashawn Slater (2021 – Los Angeles Chargers). He saw Skoronski become the first unanimous First-Team All-American in Northwestern history, while earning the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honor, the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and the Outland Trophy in 2022. Anderson also coached several All-Big Ten Team members. He joined the Northwestern staff in 2019.
Before his time at Northwestern, Anderson spent two years as the offensive line coach at Arkansas. There, he helped mentor 2017 Detroit Lions first round draft pick and All-SEC offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. Anderson aided Ragnow in being named the nation's best offensive lineman, best run blocker, a First-Team All-American by Pro Football Focus (PFF) and a Second-Team All-SEC choice by the Associated Press. He also coached Dan Skipper, who was a 2016 American Football Coaches Association Second-Team All-American and a two-time All-SEC offensive lineman. In 2016, Anderson's offensive line helped pave the way for running back Rawleigh Williams III to capture the SEC regular-season rushing title with 1,326 yards and provided time for quarterback Austin Allen to throw for an SEC-best 3,430 yards.
Prior to Arkansas, Anderson spent the 2013-15 seasons with the NFL's Buffalo Bills as an assistant offensive line coach. In 2015, the Bills led the NFL in rush yards per game (152.0) and yards per rush (4.8) and were fifth in the AFC in total offense (360.9). Aderson served as the team's primary offensive line coach for the first six weeks of the season, becoming the organization's first under head coach Rex Ryan. He also coached two 2015 NFL Pro Bowl selections. During the 2013 season, the Bills ranked second in the NFL in rushing (2,307 yards).
Anderson spent five seasons at Eastern Michigan, primarily as the run game coordinator (2010-12). His time at Eastern Michigan started in 2008 as the tight ends coach before moving to the offensive line and run game coordinator. He helped EMU rush for over 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. The Eagles posted 2,263 yards in 2012, 2,620 yards in 2011 (218.3 yards per game), marking the 14th-best run game in the nation, and 2,380 yards in 2010.
In 2011, Eastern Michigan was the only FBS school to have four players average over 50.0 rushing yards per game. He also had running backs tally over 100-yard individual rushing games nine times that season, while it occurred seven times in the season prior. Anderson's final three seasons with the Eagles saw nine games with rushing yards totaling over 300 yards.
Anderson joined Eastern Michigan after a two-year stint at his alma mater, Michigan. While on staff with the Wolverines, Anderson spent the 2007 campaign as a graduate assistant coach for the offensive line, helping develop All-America tackle and the overall No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, Jake Long. Anderson was the defensive quality control assistant coach in 2006 and aided in the development of a few current NFL players.
Prior to his time at Michigan, Anderson was an assistant coach at Indiana State, working with the offensive tackles and tight ends. He also was a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois, in 20023 and 2004.
A standout offensive lineman at Michigan, Anderson was a two-year letter winner (2000-01) as the starting center and received the Hugh R. Rader Jr. Memorial Awards as the team's top offensive lineman. He was also named an All-Big Tean Honorable Mention following the 2001 season. As a player and coach, Anderson has been involved in seven bowl games, highlighted by Michigan's 1998 Rose Bowl win that sealed the program's national championship.
In 2002, Anderson was an undrafted free agent signee with the Arizona Cardinals.
Anderson, a native of Evanston, Illinois, graduated with a bachelor's in sport management and communication from Michigan in 2001.
Garrett Gillick, Linebackers // Jan. 2, 2025
Garrett Gillick joins the UMass football staff in January 2025 after spending the past 11 seasons at the University of New Hampshire, most recently serving as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator.
Gillick aided the Wildcats in his time to six NCAA FCS Playoff trips, including a first round appearance in the 2024 season for the 19th-nationally ranked UNH team. This past season, he saw defensive end Josiah Silver named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Football Defensive Player of the Year, while landing multiple members on the All-CAA Team. Silver was also a CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year in the 2021 season
During his years at UNH, Gillick developed several All-American, All-Conference and Academic All-American performers. Gillick played a key role in emerging UNH into a perennial top 25 defense in the nation. In his first season in 2014, Gillick helped the Wildcats to the semifinals of the FCS Championships, while instrumenting New Hampshire's scoring defense to a No. 2 ranking the CAA Conference.
Prior to Gillick's time at New Hampshire, he had a three-year stint from 2011-13 at Bentley University as a defensive line coach. There, he coached an All-Conference performer in all three seasons, and was responsible for bringing the Falcons defense within the top 10 in the nation every year. Gillick helped the 2011 and 2012 defense to lead the Northeast-10 Conference in every major statistical category.
His coaching experience also expanded at the high school level, which included stops at Lowell High School and Methuen High School in Massachusetts.
Gillick, a Lowell, Massachusetts, native, earned his bachelor's in business management from Maine in 2000 and his master's degree in special education from Cambridge College in 2011. In 2008, Gillick was inducted into the Lowell High Scholl Athletic Hall of Fame.
Nyeem Wartman-White, Defensive Line // Jan. 2, 2025
After overseeing the defensive line and outside linebackers for the previous three seasons at Akron, Nyeem Wartman-White joins the Minutemen football staff in January 2025.
With the Zips, Wartman-White aided the defense to five top-45 national rankings, while sitting in the top 25 in two categories. In 2023, the Akron defense ranked 14th in first down defense and 31st in total defense in FBS. He also served as the position coach for 2023 All-MAC first team selection CJ Nunnally.
Prior to Akron, Wartman-White spent two years at New Hampshire as a defensive line coach. He helped the team to the 2022 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Conference Championship and a second round FCS playoff appearance. Wartman-White had two Wildcats garner the 2022 Associated Press FCS All-America accolades, collecting second and third team honors, while one player earned a spot on the All-CAA Third Team.
Before joining the UNH staff, Wartman-White served as a defensive graduate assistant at Mississippi State during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Wartman-White was a standout linebacker at Penn State from 2012-16. A 2016 Butkus Award Preseason Watch List member, he helped the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten Championship. In 2014, Wartman-White made a career- and team-high 11 tackles in the 2014 New Era Pinstripe Bowl victory against Boston College at Yankee Stadium. He also earned 2013 Academic All-Big Team honors and was one of only six true freshmen to see game action in 2012.
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wartman-White earned his bachelor's degree in telecommunications from Penn State in 2015 and his master's degree in workforce education leadership from Mississippi State in 2019.
Joe Castellitto, Special Team Coordinator & Nickels // Dec. 12, 2024
Castellitto spent the previous two seasons at Dartmouth, joining the Big Green as the special teams coordinator and nickels coach.
While at Dartmouth, he helped the Big Green to back-to-back Ivy League Championship titles. Castellitto coached the 2024 Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Year in Owen Zalc, while seeing two players earn spots on the First and Second Team All-Conference lists. In 2024, his special teams unit lead the Ivy League in PFF ranking (90) and graded fifth in all of FCS.
Prior to Dartmouth, Castellitto was a member of the UConn staff for three years, serving as a defensive graduate assistant for the 2020 season while working with the defensive backs, before being promoted to the outside linebackers, as well as the interim quality control coach for the 2021 season. He was promoted once again for the 2022 season to a defensive analyst role with the linebackers. In that year with the Huskies, he aided the program to its first bowl game in seven years, the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
Castellitto also spent time as the outside linebackers coach and run game coordinator at Central Connecticut State for the 2019 season. The Blue Devils finished the year ranked 22nd in the country with an 11-2 record and an undefeated mark in the Northeast Conference (NEC) to win the league title. He coached two linebackers to All-NEC honors, with the defense as a whole ranking first in the nation in interceptions and defensive touchdowns, and second in run defense and turnover margin.
Castellitto spent the spring of 2019 as an inside linebackers coach at Western Connecticut State and began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant for two season at his alma mater, Utica College. He helped the Pioneers to a win at the Scotte Whitelaw Bowl in 2018.
A four-year leadership council member at Utica as an undergraduate, Castellitto played multiple positions on defense and special teams. He was a three-time Empire 8 All-Academic Team honoree.
Originally from Mahopac, New York, Castellitto earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science in 2017 and his master's in special education at Utica in 2018.
Kayon Whitaker, Analyst // Dec. 12, 2024
Whitaker joins the Minutemen in an analyst role after spending the past three seasons at Rutgers, most recently as a player personnel assistant in 2024. In 2023, he was a graduate assistant defensive line coach for the Scarlet Knights after serving as a player development/wide receivers graduate assistant coach in 2022. Before joining Rutgers, Whitaker worked in defensive quality control coach and assistant operations at Maine in 2021.
Whitaker was a standout defensive lineman at Maine from 2016-19, appearing in 40 career games for the Black Bears from 2016-19. He finished his collegiate career with 183 tackles, 45.5 tackles-for-loss, 27 sacks and seven forced fumbles, earning all-conference laurels three times. As a senior in 2019, Whitaker produced 20 stops in the backfield with nine sacks en route to First Team All-CAA accolades and was named the team's most outstanding defensive player.
A native of Washington, D.C., Whitaker earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Maine in 2019.
Mike Bajakian, Offensive Coordinator // Jan. 15, 2025
University of Massachusetts head football coach Joe Harasymiak has officially announced the addition of Mike Bajakian as the program's offensive coordinator.
Bajakian spent the 2024 season with the University of Utah, including ending the season as the program's interim offensive coordinator. Prior to Utah, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern from 2020-23. He also boasts NFL experience, including serving as Jameis Winston's quarterbacks coach when Winston earned the Pepsi Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2015 and became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.
Bajakian was instrumental in guiding Northwestern to a pair of Bowl Game victories. In 2023, Bajakian and the Wildcats went 8-5 overall including a win in the Las Vegas Bowl. In 2020, he helped guide the Wildcats to a win over Auburn in the Citrus Bowl, with his quarterback Peyton Ramsey earning Most Valuable Player of the 2021 Citrus Bowl honors after completing 24-of-35 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 50 yards. In 2020, Bajakian and the Wildcats won the Big Ten West and finished the season ranked 10th in the final AP Top 25 poll.
Prior to his time with the Wildcats, Bajakian spent the 2019 season as the offensive coordinator at Boston College, leading the Eagles to the top rushing attack in the ACC with the rushing offense also ranking third in the then Power Five.
Bajakian spent four seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coaching Winston in his first two seasons. In his debut season, Tampa Bay's offense had a top-five finish in the NFL and the most yards in team history with Winston setting team rookie records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass completions and passer rating.
In his second season with the Buccaneers, Winston set single-season franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns, becoming the youngest player to throw for 50 touchdowns in NFL history. Also in 2017, Bajakian coached Winston to career bests in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating.
During the 2018 season, Bajakian was on staff to see Tampa Bay lead the NFL with 320.3 passing yards per game with the team wrapping up the season ranked No. 3 in total offense.
Bajakian joined the Buccaneers from the University of Tennessee, where he served as the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was a part of a coaching staff that helped the Vols to their first bowl game appearance since 2010 and their first bowl victory since 2007, winning the 2015 Taxslayer Bowl.
Bajakian has had additional coaching stops which include the University of Cincinnati (2010-12, Offensive Coordinator/QBs), Central Michigan (2007-09, Offensive Coordinator/QBs) and the Chicago Bears (2004-06, Offensive Quality Control). While at Cincinnati, the Bearcats won back-to-back conference championships and led the conference in scoring offense and total offense in two of the three seasons. While at Central Michigan as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the Chippewas won two MAC championships. During that time, the Chippewas offense also posted its three highest-scoring offenses since joining the MAC in 1975 and set or broke more than 30 school records.
A native of River Vale, New Jersey, Bajakian spent his undergraduate years in Massachusetts as well. He was an All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) selection and All-ECAC quarterback honoree while playing for Williams College.
George Greene, Director of High Performance/Head Football Sports Performance Coach // Jan. 23, 2025
George Greene has been named the Director of High Performance/Head Football Sports Performance Coach by Head Coach Joe Harasymiak.
Greene joins UMass after spending nine transformative years at Stony Brook University, where he served as Senior Associate Athletics Director of High Performance and Competitive Success.
At Stony Brook, Greene oversaw all aspects of athletic performance, performance nutrition and sports science, working extensively with the football and men's basketball teams. He supervised and mentored a multidisciplinary team of staff and coaches to serve over 500 student-athletes. He also served on the Athletic Director's leadership council and management team, while co-leading the student-athlete support tactical team. Greene advanced through leadership roles, earning a promotion from Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Performance to the Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Performance in 2019, before his transition to Senior Associate Athletic Director in 2023.
Prior to Stony Brook, Greene spent two years as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Mary Washington. Greene was the first strength and conditioning coach at UMW in school history, transforming the program into one of the best in the region. He aided in the training and conditioning for 22 varsity sports, while overseeing all aspects of performance nutrition.
Before his time at UMW, Greene was a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Specialist for the U.S. Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg in 2014. There, he provided strength and conditioning services to special operations soldiers to reduce the onset of injuries and improve performance in preparation for deployment. During his time at Fort Bragg, Green received an Excellence Award from the command team from the U.S. Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg for delivering exceptional service and surpassing performance expectations.
Greene served as the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at UMass from 2010 to 2014. He was responsible for designing and implementing training programs for eight varsity sports, while assisting with football and men's lacrosse. He also spent 2008-09 as the Strength and Conditioning Assistant with the UMass football program.
Greene was a Sports Performance Director at Athletic republic on Long Island, developing training programs for high school, collegiate and professional athletes. Greene got his start in the field of strength and conditioning at Iowa, assisting with the women's basketball and volleyball teams.
During his career, Greene has worked with several All-Americans, numerous all-conference selections and multiple athletes who have gone on to sign professional contracts in their respective sports.
Greene earned his bachelor's degree in applied exercise science from Springfield College in 2008 and his master's in health and human performance from Fort Hays State University in 2015. He is on track to earn his doctorate in sport and performance psychology at the University of Western State in Portland, Oregon, in the summer of 2025.
Additionally, Greene is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and a registered strength and conditioning coach with distinction (RSCC*D) through the NSCA, a certified specialist in sports nutrition through the ISSA, a certified sports performance coach through USAW, a corrective exercise specialist (CES) through NASM, and is CPR/AED certified through the American Red Cross.
Jared Keyte, Defensive Coordinator // Jan. 24, 2025
University of Massachusetts football and head coach Joe Harasymiak have officially named Jared Keyte as the program's defensive coordinator.
Keyte comes to Amherst after spending the past two seasons on Harasymiak's staff at Rutgers, serving as the nickels coach for the 2024 season and as the defensive quality control/interim defensive line coach in 2023. He helped the Scarlet Knights to back-to-back bowl games, including the 2024 Rate Bowl at Chase Field. He also was part of back-to-back winning seasons at Rutgers for the first time since 2011-12.
Keyte also coached at the University of Maine from 2016-22, serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2022. With the Black Bears under Harasymiak, Keyte was the outside linebackers coach (2016-18). He helped Maine to the 2018 CAA Championship with a 7-1 conference record. Maine then advanced to the first Football Championship Subdivision national semifinal game in program history and finished the year with a 10-4 overall record
At Maine, Keyte spent time as the special teams coordinator (2018-21) and also served as the safeties coach (2019-21). As the program's special team's coordinator in 2021, Keyte helped the Black Bears' special teams unit to numerous top rankings, both in the conference and nationally. Maine led the CAA and ranked third nationally in blocked kicks, ranked second in the CAA and fifth nationally in kickoff return average and checked in at third in the conference in punt coverage.
Prior to Maine, Keyte was a defensive quality control coach at Rutgers in 2015, working with the linebackers, including All-Big Ten selection Steve Longa, who finished fifth in the nation in solo tackles. Keyte also served as a graduate assistant at Springfield College where he coached defensive backs in 2013 and worked with the linebackers, while serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2014.
In 2012, Keyte coached the quarterbacks at Utica College after playing the same position for four years. He assisted in coaching a group that led the league in scoring offense, total offense, passing touchdowns, passing efficiency and saw quarterback Andrew Benkwitt named Empire 8 Player of the Year.
A native of Holland Patent, New York, Keyte earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Utica in 2012. Keyte was a four-year letterwinner for the Pioneers at quarterback.
Jordan Hogan, Wide Receivers // Jan. 28, 2025
Jordan Hogan was named to the Massachusetts football staff as the wide receivers coach in January 2025. He joins the Minutemen after most recently serving as the offensive assistant coach, working primarily with wide receivers, with the San Francisco 49ers for two seasons.
With the 49ers, Hogan initially joined in 2023 under the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. In his role, he worked with the wide receivers in executing practice and game plans. Hogan helped Brandon Aiyuk earn AP Second-Team All-Pro honors after registering a career-high 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, as Aiyuk's 17.9 yards per reception ranked second in the NFL. Hogan aided the 49ers to an NFC Championship title and an appearance in Super Bowl LVII in the 2023-24 season.
Before joining the 49ers, Hogan was the wide receivers coach at Colgate for the 2022 season, after spending two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals as part of the Bill Bidwill Fellowship. Hogan was named to the FootballScoop's Minority Watch List in 2022 while with the Cardinals, where he worked with the offensive staff and served as an assistant in the quarterbacks room.
Prior to Hogan's time in the NFL, he spent three seasons at Cornell as the wide receivers coach. There, he aided in the development of several record-setting players at that position. A total of 20 different Big Red players caught at least one pass in 2018 under Hogan.
Along with his role with the Arizona Cardinals, Hogan has served in similar NFL capacities in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, Indianapolis Colts in 2017 and the Buffalo Bills in 2016.
Hogan had wide receiver coaching stops at Division II Stonehill College (2017) and Division III Buffalo State College (2013-2017). He also served as the wide receivers coach for the US National Team development game in Canton, Ohio, in 2016.
A standout wide receiver at The State University of New York, Brockport, Hogan currently ranks seventh in school history in career receiving yards (1,546) and 11th in catches (108). He earned All-League honors as a junior and was a preseason All-American as a senior captain.
A native of Newfane, New York, Hogan earned his bachelor's degree in communications and media studies from SUNY-Brockport in 2013.
Brian White, Offensive Analyst // Jan. 30, 2025
Brian White comes to Amherst as an offensive analyst for the Minutemen after spending two seasons as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Delaware State.
While at Delaware State, White developed a run game for the 2024 season that aided running back Jaden Sutton to the first 1,000-yard season for the program since 2006. He also coordinated staff academic monitoring and study hall programs, which helped raise the team's GPA and APR score.
Prior to Delaware State, White was a member of the football staff at Hampton for five seasons. Upon arrival with the Pirates, he was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, before being named the recruiting coordinator and the offensive associate head coach. He guided the football program through its transition from the MEAC to the Big South Conference in 2018, and then the move into the Colonial Athletic Association in 2022.
In 2021, White coached an offensive line unit that sat atop the Big South's total offense. During the 2019 season, running back Shai McKenzie became Hampton's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2012, while White saw new single season school records for pass completions, touchdown passes, receiving touchdowns and pass receptions. The Pirates had an NCAA Statistical Championship for individual receiving touchdowns and an offense that increased production in points per game from 21.5 in 2017 to 30.9 in 2018. Hampton racked up over 418 yards per game and nearly 35 points per contest, including three 50-point outings in 2018. The 428 yards were the most in a season by team in at least 15 years.
White previously spent seven years at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with the final six seasons being the offensive coordinator. He led Rose-Hulman's offense to more than 50 school records since 2014, including three performances of 70 or more points in a game. The team recorded back-to-back eight-win seasons in 2015 and 2016, while making the team's first trip to the NCAA Division III Playoffs in 2016.
He also served as the offensive line coach at Rose-Hulman, as the unit achieved numerous awards over White's three years. Two players were both named First Team All-League members and to the D3Football.com All-North region squad in 2016, while one student-athlete was a First Team All-Conference selection in 2015. In 2014, three members were Second Team All-League honorees, including three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American Nick Buchta.
In 2013, the offensive line had two First Team All-Conference selections, one All-North Region honoree and a First Team All-Conference offensive lineman in both 2012 and 2011.
White joined the Rose-Hulman coaching staff after serving roles at Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Maryland. At Cincinnati, he helped lead the Big East Conference in almost every offensive category in 2010. The Bearcats had the league's top passing offense and produce the school's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2004. Additionally, five Bearcats received all conference honors on the offensive side of the ball.
In 2009, while at Notre Dame, White assisted on an offensive staff that produced the eighth-rated offense in the nation, averaging 451.75 yards per game, and the winner of the 2009 Biletnikoff Award.
During the 2009 season at Maryland, he filled the role of special teams and tight ends coach in preparation for the Humanitarian Bowl. White's special teams unit featured a 99-yard kickoff return for touchdown, setting a bowl record, and helped Maryland defeat Nevada, 42-35. White also served on Maryland's staff that made appearances in the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl, beating Purdue 24-7, and the 2007 Emerald Bowl.
Prior to his stint at Maryland, White spent two seasons with the postgraduate football program at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, serving as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. During his tenure at Hargrave, White tutored two future NFL offensive linemen, Branden Alberts (Kansas City Chiefs) and Jared Gaither (Baltimore Ravens).
White, a native of Oakland, New Jersey, earned his bachelor's in history from Juniata College in 2004 and his master's degree in special education from Maryland in 2008.
Jeff Stern, Sports Performance Coach // Feb. 5, 2025
Jeff Stern joins the Massachusetts football program as a Sports Performance Coach after spending two years as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Iowa. He also spent the 2019 season with Iowa football as a strength and conditioning intern.
During Stern's time with Iowa, the Hawkeyes won 18 games across two seasons, including 10 wins and capturing the Big Ten West Division in 2023. Iowa earned berths to the Citrus and Music City Bowls after the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively, and finished the 2023 year ranked No. 24 nationally.
Prior to Iowa, Stern served as an assistant director of strength and conditioning at Central Michigan. There, he implemented strength and conditioning programs for softball and volleyball student-athletes, and assisted football's strength, speed and conditioning drills. Stern was also responsible for the refueling station for the Chippewas.
Stern had two stints at Merrimack College, first spending the 2020-21 year as a graduate fellow, followed by the 2021 fall semester as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. While on staff, he executed speed, strength and conditioning programs for football, track and field throwers, women's basketball and women's tennis.
Before Merrimack, Stern was an assistant strength coach at Toyota Racing Development in Cornelius, North Carolina, and held a strength and conditioning internship with the football program at the University of North Carolina.
Stern, a Marblehead, Massachusetts, native, earned his bachelor's degree in applied exercise science with a concentration in sports performance in 2020 from Springfield College and his master's in exercise and sport science from Merrimack in 2021. Stern was a running back for four seasons with the Springfield Pride football team.
Stern is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC), is United States Weightlifting Certified (USAW-1) and is certified for CPR and AED.
Donald Celiscar, Defensvie Backs // Feb. 10, 2025
Donald Celiscar comes to Amherst with 10 years of college football experience as both a coach and player. Celiscar will serve as the defensive backs coach after spending three seasons at Western Michigan, primarily working with the cornerbacks.
At WMU, Celiscar helped the Broncos to a bowl game, as the team played in the 2024 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. Western Michigan finished with a 5-3 Mid-American Conference (MAC) record in 2024. He also aided Bilahl Kone to a 2024 Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl Invitations.
During the 2023 season, Celiscar coached two-time Third Team All-MAC selection Keni-H Lovely to a career-high 48 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups. Kone added eight pass breakups on the year as Celiscar's cornerbacks made 17 pass breakups on the season. Lovely was later signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.
Celiscar's first season with the Broncos saw Lovely come away with four interceptions and a pick-six to earn Third Team All-MAC honors. Celiscar's cornerbacks were responsible for 15 passes defended in the 2022 season.
Prior to Western Michigan, Celiscar spent the 2021 year as the associate head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Division II Lake Erie College. There, he saw a player earn Second Team All-Conference honors and three members garner Third Team Defensive honors. In his one season, the Storm defense ranked third overall in the Great Midwest Conference.
Celiscar was the defensive backs coach at Montana State-Northern in the 2020 season and spent the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant at Minnesota. With the Gophers, he mentored unanimous All-American Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and 2020 NFL second-round draft pick Antoine Winfield Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), while guiding two Big Tean Honorable Mention selections, including seventh-round draft pick Chris Williamson (New York Giants). In 2019, Minnesota finished the year ranked second in the Big Ten in interceptions (14) and went from No. 51 nationally in passing defense in 2018 (212.4), to No. 9 in 2019 (184.2).
Celiscar was a defensive back at Western Michigan from 2011-14, starting in 40 of 48 games played. He ended his career at WMU with 10 interceptions, 45 pass breakups and 247 tackles. As a senior, Celiscar led the nation in passes defended per game (1.6), had four interceptions and added 17 pass breakups. He earned All-Mac First Team honors in 2014, was named to the All-MAC Second Team in 2013 and was an All-MAC Third Team member in 2012.
Celiscar participated in the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, and was invited to the NFL Combine. He spent time with the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 and was in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2016.
Celiscar, a native of Winter Haven, Florida, earned his bachelor's in recreation with a minor in business from Western Michigan in 2015 and is in the process of earning his master's in youth development leadership from Minnesota.
Drew Belcher, Offensive Analyst // Feb. 11, 2025
Drew Belcher joined the UMass football staff in January 2025 as an offensive analyst after spending four years on staff at the University of New Hampshire.
At New Hampshire, Belcher had several roles, most recently serving as the offensive pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach as of 2023. In the 2024 season, he saw an All-CAA Third Team and Fourth Team selection, while aiding the t19th-nationally ranked UNH team to a first-round appearance in the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Additionally, Belcher had two honorees on the 2024 New England Football Writer's Association (NEFWA) Division I All-New England Team.
In the 2023 season, he helped the Wildcats rank fourth in scoring offense in the FCS at 36.5 points per game and fourth in passing offense in the FCS, while aiding the team to rank first in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in both scoring and passing offense.
Belcher coached former Wildcat quarterback Max Brosmer, who was ranked first in the nation in passing yards (3,449), passing yards per game (313.55) and total offense (3,575 yards). Brosmer was also fourth in the nation in completions per game (26.64). Belcher saw Brosmer earn several awards, including being a top three 2023 Walter Payton Award Finalist, a 2023 Doris Robinson Award Finalist, a 2023 NEFWA Gold Helmet recipient, a 2023 CAA Chuck Boone Leadership award winner and a spot on the First-Team All-CAA quarterbacks list.
For the 2022 season, Belcher worked primarily as the quarterbacks coach, helping the team to a 2022 CAA championship and a NCAA FCS Playoff appearance. He coached Brosmer as part of an offense that was fourth in the CAA in scoring at 30 points per game, while ranking ninth in the country in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. Brosmer received the NEFWA College Division All-New England Team honors.
Belcher worked with the running backs during the 2021 campaign, mentoring a 2023 undrafted free agent player for the Atlanta Falcons in Carlos Washington and a 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl Invitee in Dylan Laube.
Prior to his promotion as the running backs coach in July 2021, Belcher arrived at New Hampshire in February of 2021 as the offensive quality control and assistant offensive line coach. He assisted the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach and was responsible for defensive scout and opponent defensive break down.
Belcher played one season in the National Football League in 2019 after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals to compete for a roster spot on the squad at tight end. There, he was a member of the organization's 90-man roster, taking part in organized team activities, training camp and participating in four preseason games before he joined the Washington Football Team later in the year as a practice squad player. With Washington, Belcher aided the squad's starting defense by playing tight end on their scout team.
Belcher was a four-year member of the Maine football team as a player, originally starting his career with the Black Bears as a quarterback before switching to the tight end position following fall camp in his redshirt junior season. He played a pivotal role in Maine's historic 2018 season, which ended in the longest postseason run in program history. During that season, the team captain helped Maine capture the CAA Championship title, an appearance in the FCS National Semifinals and completed the year with a No. 4 FCS national ranking.
Individually, in 2018, Belcher earned All-CAA Second Team honors at tight end and received the Jack Cosgrove Leadership Award. Throughout his career, Belcher also received four Maine Scholar-Athlete awards and the 2016 Maine Football Strength and Conditioning accolade.
In his career, Belcher tallied 63 career receptions for 590 yards and three touchdowns at tight end. As a quarterback, he accumulated 1,529 yards passing with nine passing touchdowns, while rushing for 645 yards with four touchdowns on the ground.
Belcher, a native of Reading, Massachusetts, earned his bachelor's in business administration in management from Maine in 2018.
Ibn Foster, Assistant Strength Coach // Feb. 20, 2025
Ibn Foster joins the Massachusetts football program as an assistant strength & conditioning coach, after previously spending time at UAlbany as the assistant strength & conditioning coach for men's basketball, volleyball and track and field.
Prior to UAlbany, Foster served as the assistant strength & conditioning coach at Central Michigan, working football, men's basketball, women's soccer, baseball and cross country in 2023. Foster also was a graduate assistant coach at Stony Brook from 2022 to 2023. There, he worked as the head softball strength coach for the fall offseason in addition to serving as an assistant coach for football and men's basketball. Foster was also the nutrition coordinator for the entire Stony Brook athletics department.
A 2020 UAlbany graduate, Foster was a defensive lineman for the Great Danes football team and captain during his time.
Foster is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA) and CPR/AED certified from the American Heart Association.