UAlbany makes changes to coaching staff
ALBANY, N.Y. » University at Albany Head Football Coach, Greg Gattuso, has announced changes and promotions on his coaching staff, including the hiring of former Great Danes linebacker Michael Nicastro as a defensive assistant.
“We’ve had some coaches have opportunities to increase their roles with new positions in other programs, and we’re happy for them,” Gattuso said. “Now, as we move forward, we’ve decided to restructure our coaching staff. We feel as though we’ve put together a strong group of coaches.”
Among the changes to the existing staff, Joe Bernard, who has served as the Great Danes offensive coordinator for the past four seasons, now will be co-defensive coordinator with Keith Dudzinski, whose promotion from safe-
ties coach had been announced in January.
Bernard has experience as a defensive coordinator at the Football Championship Subdivision level, having held the position at Fairfield (1996-2001) and then under Gattuso for two seasons at Duquesne, where together they won the 2003 NCAA I-AA Mid Major National Championship.
In addition, Bernard will serve as special-teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Also on the defensive staff, Bill Nesselt has been promoted to director of football operations and outside linebackers coach. Nesselt was a defensive assistant this past season.
On the offensive side, Joe Davis will serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Davis had joined the staff this
past winter after having been offensive coordinator at Fordham for the past two seasons. He held the same position at Northern Iowa in 2015.
Nate Byham, who had been special-teams coordinator and tight ends coach, will be the run-game coordinator while also continuing as a position coach.
Will Fiacchi, the alltime leading passer in Great Danes history, has been promoted to recruiting coordinator and widereceivers coach after having served as an offensive assistant in 2017.
Nicastro, a 2016 graduate, returns to the program after finishing his career fifth on UAlbany’s all-time list with 310 career tackles. His 126 tackles as a senior rank as the ninth-highest single- season total in program history.
The Great Danes begin Spring Practice on Tuesday, March 27. The series of 15 practice concludes with the Spring Game on April 28. diate hole on Buffalo’s defensive front.
Lotulelei is reunited with McDermott, who was Panthers defensive coordinator before taking over in Buffalo in January 2017. Bills general manager Brandon Beane is also familiar with Lotulelei and played a role in drafting him after previously serving as Panthers assistant GM.
Lotulelei has forced two fumbles and has 11 1/2sacks in 76 career games, and was voted to the NFL all-rookie team in 2013. His future in Carolina was uncertain after the Panthers signed defensive tackle Kawann Short to a five-year, $80 million contract extension last offseason, and also used a first-round pick for Vernon Butler last year.
Williams is a one-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection. He showed no signs of slowing last year, with 41 tackles and three sacks in starting all 16 games. Overall, his 43 1/2 sacks are the most by a defensive tackle in franchise history.
Buffalo’s defensive front seven has numerous needs with starting linebackers Preston Brown and Ramon Humber eligible to become free agents. The Bills finished 26th in yards allowed and gave up 140 or more yards rushing eight times, including a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in the AFC wild-card playoff game.
Lotulelei’s addition is the latest bold move made by Beane in reshaping Buffalo’s roster since being hired in May to replace Doug Whaley.
Beane has already completed two trades over the past week in dealing quarterback Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland and sending starting offensive tackle Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati . Buffalo moved up nine spots in the first round by acquiring the Bengals’ selection, 12th overall, as part of the Glenn trade.
The deals continued strengthening Buffalo’s bid for selecting one of several highly regarded quarterback prospects in the first round next month. The Bills have two picks in each of the first three rounds, including the 22nd selection.