University of Massachusets Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
Travis Ecke joined the UMass football staff in February of 2025 after spending two seasons as an assistant coach with the University of New Haven.
At UMass, Ecke assists with offensive installation for new players, contributes to weekly scouting and game preparation and works directly with the wide receivers during individual periods. He also helps coordinate official visits for prospective wide receivers and their families. In his first season with the Minutemen, he contributed to the development of All-MAC Third Team selection/wide reciever Jacquon Gibson.
With New Haven, Ecke coached wide receivers while also assisting with special teams and outside linebackers, playing a key role in the program’s back-to-back Northeast-10 Conference championships and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024. Promoted to wide receivers coach ahead of the 2024 season, he led install meetings, directed individual position development and transitioned the program’s offensive playbook to a digital Visio platform while recruiting his own territory across Long Island and Connecticut prep programs. His receiver unit produced multiple postseason honorees, including First Team All-American and Harlon Hill Trophy nominee Khalil Eason, First Team All-New England selection Logan Schmidt and Second Team All-NE10 performer Mikey Caines. During the 2023 championship season, Ecke also oversaw outside linebacker individual periods, contributed to weekly scouting reports and managed the special teams launch pad on game day, mentoring All-NE10 linebacker Joe Vitale and First Team All-American return specialist Dev Holmes.
Prior to New Haven, Ecke served as assistant director of recruiting at Yale, where he evaluated prospects nationally, coordinated official visits and supported daily program operations while organizing recruiting travel grids for the coaching staff. He was part of a Yale team that claimed the outright Ivy League Championship in 2022.
A former student-athlete, Ecke was a member of three Northeast Conference championship teams at Sacred Heart, helping the program to two NCAA FCS playoff appearances. His playing career began at Cheshire Academy, where he was a three-time championship team member and was unanimously elected the program’s first solo captain.
