June 24, 2004

Duquesne University head football coach Greg Gattuso announced that assistant coach Shawn Liotta has accepted the head coaching position at Line Mountain High School (Herndon, Pa.). Liotta, who was in his second season at Duquesne, joins an impressive list of former Duquesne assistants who are currently head coaches.

"I'm very happy for Shawn," said Gattuso. "I'm sure he'll do a great job at Line Mountain."

Liotta who was in his second season with the Dukes, was the running backs coach last year and had moved over to coach the tight ends in the spring. A 2002 graduate of Robert Morris University, Liotta spent three seasons at Springdale High School where he served as offensive coordinator, working extensively with the quarterbacks and running backs prior to coming to Duquesne.

"It says alot for our program that our assistants are able to secure head coaching positions," said Gattuso, who is beginning his 11th season at Duquesne. "I'm proud of the fact that their hard work is being recognized."

Liotta is the eighth former Duquesne assistant to leave for a head coaching position. The list includes the following: Rich Ingold (arenafootball2 Quad City Steamwheelers), Shawn Liotta (Mount Lion High School), Mauro Monz (West Virginia Tech), Dave Opfar (St. Francis, Pa. University), Bob Palko (West Allegheny High School), Jerry Schmitt (Westminster College) Terry Smith (Gateway High School) and Jim Wehner (Avonworth High School). In addition, Curtis Bray, who began his coaching career at Duquesne in the early-1990s, is currently the linebackers coach at the University of Pittsburgh.

Duquesne, the defending NCAA I-AA Mid-Major National Champion, has won five consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League titles. Overall, the Dukes have won seven MAAC championships in 10 seasons in the league.