June 14, 2004

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne University head football coach Greg Gattuso announced today that Gabe Luvara, who is in his second season as the Dukes' offensive line coach, will also assume offensive coordinator duties this year.

Last season, the 25-year-old Luvara molded an inexperienced offensive line into a unit that helped the Dukes finish fifth nationally in total offense (455 yards per game) on the way to winning the I-AA Mid-Major National Championship.

"Gabe is a tremendously talented young coach, who did a great job with our offensive linemen last year," said Gattuso. "He understands our system and is an excellent teacher. I look for him to excel in his new position."

The Keyser, W.Va. native, who came to Duquesne following a one-year internship at the University of Louisville, was a three-year starter on the offensive line at Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1999-01.

Gattuso announced the addition of three former DU stars to the coaching staff. All-time leading rusher Donte Small (1998-01) - the 2001 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year - will coach the running backs, Tim Pichette (1999-03), a first team All-American safety for the Dukes last season, will coach the defensive backs and Randy Vulakovich (2000-03), who finished his career last season second on DU's all-time receptions list, will work with the receivers.

The trio combined to win five league championships as undergrads, with Pichette and Vulakovich starting for the 2003 I-AA Mid-Major National Champions. All three have completed their undergraduate degrees.

"I'm really happy to have Donte, Tim and Randy on the staff," said Gattuso. "All three were great players who helped the program get to where it is today. I'm looking forward to them contributing from the sidelines this season."

Small, Pichette and Vulakovich join second-year quarterbacks coach Dave Loya as one of four former Dukes on the DU staff. Loya led Duquesne to its first two MAAC titles as a quarterback in 1995 & 1996.