BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott football head coach Paul McGonagle has announced changes to his coaching staff for the upcoming 2021 season.
Matthew Popino has been promoted to defensive coordinator/secondary coach after serving the program as its linebackers coach and special teams coordinator over the last two seasons.
Meanwhile, McKinley Pippin will replace Popino as the team's linebackers coach.
McGonagle would also like to recognize the 2020 promotions of Todd Parsons and Andrew Nevit.
Prior to the 2020 season, Parsons was elevated to assistant head coach, while Nevit assumed recruiting coordinator duties for the program before the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I'm pleased to announce the promotion of Matt Popino as our defensive coordinator and the elevations for Todd Parsons and Andrew Nevit. I look forward to watching them continue to shape and impact our program," said McGonagle. "In addition, I am excited to welcome McKinley Pippin to our staff and the Endicott Community. He comes from a coaching family and has experience coaching in the region."
Along with the additions to the staff, Tyler Armillay (offensive line), Joe Kalosky '20 (wide receivers), Bob Holmes (defensive backs), Cory Gaff (running backs), Tad Beuchert (kickers/punters), Kendall Dardy-Jones (defensive assistant), Mark Ledbetter (offensive assistant), and Jack Dustin (strength & conditioning) return to the fold in 2021.
MORE ON MATTHEW POPINO
In 2019, Popino aided Endicott in receiving No. 1 conference rankings in points per game allowed (18.4), points allowed (202), interceptions (18), defensive touchdowns (2), and blocked kicks (9). The Gulls were the only team in the conference to allow less than 20.0 points per game and the only team to give up 210 points or less.
Endicott also ranked No. 2 in blocked kicks, No. 15 in blocked punts, No. 9 in interceptions, No. 65 in red zone defense, No. 42 in scoring defense, No. 41 in team passing efficiency defense (110.07), No. 21 in turnover margin (1.00), and No. 25 in turnovers gained (25) among all NCAA Division III programs that season.
Popino came to Endicott after a three-year coaching stint at Rutgers University where he rapidly rose through the ranks of the program serving in four different positions (defensive intern, player development, defensive quality control - linebackers, defensive line graduate assistant) during his time in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
In his role as the defensive quality control - linebackers coach, Popino assisted the linebackers coach in weekly game planning, scouting reports, scripting practices, and recruiting. He also assisted the defense in weekly breakdowns, charting plays, and drawing cards while creating reports with Pro Football Focus to find opponent tendencies.
Meanwhile, Popino's other coaching experiences include Fitchburg State University - where he served as the linebackers coach, video coordinator, and academic coordinator from 2015-16 - and Worcester State University for two years from 2013-15 (assistant defensive backs coach). Popino also played at Worcester State University for two seasons as a tight end, guard, and center, and graduated from the university in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. He also completed his Masters of Science in Applied Communications from Fitchburg State University in 2017.
MORE ON MCKINLEY PIPPIN
Pippin comes to Endicott from Wilkes University, where he served the program as its linebackers coach. Pippin also aided the program in game plan creation and installment, film breakdown, scouting, and practice planning in addition to recruiting student-athletes from Southern Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Prior to Wilkes, Pippin worked with the Lazio Ducks (defensive coordinator/associate head coach) in Italy, Eastern Kentucky University (linebackers, special teams, quality control coach), and Anna Maria College (outside linebackers, director of football operations).
MORE ON TODD PARSONS
In 2019, Parsons guided Endicott to No. 1 overall rankings among the Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) conference's eight teams in points per game (41.5), points (457), red zone offense (.860), and team passing efficiency (162.13), and a No. 2 overall ranking in total offense (4,561). Nationally, the Gulls ranked No. 32 in third down conversion percentage (.459), No. 21 in red zone offense, No. 23 in team passing efficiency, and No. 53 in total offense.
Parsons' efforts also played a major role in senior quarterback Joe Kalosky (Plymouth, Conn.) earning CCC Football Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors and New England Bowl MVP accolades in 2019.
Prior to arriving at Endicott, Parsons held the same role at NCAA Division II Bentley University for the 2018 season.
His previous coaching stops also include Brown University (Pass Game Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach, 2014-17), Assumption College (Special Teams Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach, 2013-14), Salve Regina University (Offensive Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator, 2010-13), and McDaniel College (Graduate Assistant / Quarterbacks / Running Backs, 2007-2010).
Parsons is a 2007 graduate of Averett University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Wellness with a minor in Coaching. As a quarterback for the Cougars, Parsons was a two-time All-Conference selection, an Academic All-Conference honoree and a captain of the program. Parsons, who guided Averett to a conference championship in 2006, still ranks first overall in the following categories: career passing touchdowns (42), most touchdowns responsible for in a career (46), and total offense in a career (4,848 yards). Parsons also is first for most passing touchdowns in a single season with 18 (2005) and most touchdowns responsible for in a single campaign (21). Meanwhile, his 4,662 passing yards ranks and 129.8 passing efficiency rating rank second all-time for a career.
Following his time at Averett, Parsons went on to complete his Masters of Science in Sports Administration from McDaniel College from 2007-08.
Parsons has been an American Coaches Football Association (AFCA) member since 2007 and most recently spoke at the 2018 AFCA Convention.
MORE ON ANDREW NEVIT
In 2019, Nevit played a pivotal role in Sam Opont (Bridgeport, Conn.) earning CCC Football Defensive Lineman of the Year honors, All-Conference First Team accolades, one All-Region honor, and finalist honors for the Cliff Harris Award, which is presented to the nation's top small college defensive player.
Nevit's coaching also aided Tom Lorusso (Stony Brook, N.Y.) in receiving his first career All-Conference Second Team selection and Grayson Maddux (Park City, Utah) in claiming All-Conference First Team honors and CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team accolades.
Meanwhile, as a team, Nevit helped Endicott in achieving No. 1 conference rankings in points per game allowed (18.4), points allowed (202), interceptions (18), defensive touchdowns (2), and blocked kicks (9). The Gulls were the only team in the conference to allow less than 20.0 points per game and the only team to give up 210 points or less.
Nationally, Endicott ranked No. 2 in blocked kicks, No. 15 in blocked punts, No. 9 in interceptions, No. 65 in red zone defense, No. 42 in scoring defense, No. 41 in team passing efficiency defense (110.07), No. 21 in turnover margin (1.00), and No. 25 in turnovers gained (25).
Nevit came to Endicott with a bevy of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels. Most recently, Nevit served as the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach at Western Connecticut State University. While with the Colonials, who went 8-2 in 2018, Nevit coordinated the PAT/FG block team, assisted with film breakdown, game plan, and playbook installation, and assisted with all aspects of recruiting including his own territory of Long Island, New York.
Nevit's other coaching stops include King's College (2016-18), East Stroudsburg University (2015-16), and Bishop McGann Mercy High School (2014-15). At all three stops, Nevit worked with following positional groups defensive line, running backs, h-backs, offensive line, tight ends, in addition to his responsibilities as the co-video coordinator at King's College and the junior varsity assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Bishop McGann Mercy.
Nevit is a 2014 graduate of Anna Maria College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Health Science. He went on to earn his M.S. in Health Education from East Stroudsburg in 2017.
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(Photo Credit - Rob Ackerman '20)
