April 11, 2005
Duquesne University head football coach Jerry Schmitt has announced the hiring of five assistant coaches - three of whom were retained from former coach Greg Gattuso's staff. Defensive coordinator Joe Bernard and defensive backs coaches Bill Hurley and Tim Pichette have been retained from last year's staff, while Mauro Monz, who served as DU's offensive coordinator in 2001 & 2002, returns in the same capacity. Carmen Bricillo, a former All-MAAC player for the Dukes, is the new offensive line coach. Both Monz, a two-time first team All-MAAC defensive back in 1994 & 1995, and Briscillo played for Duquesne when Schmitt was the offensive coordinator.
"I'm pleased that the majority of the defensive staff will be back with us in 2005," said Schmitt. "Joe Bernard is a proven coach at this level, Tim Pichette is a former Duquesne player who did a real good job in his first year as a coach for Greg last season. My relationship with Bill Hurley goes all the way back to 1989 when we were both assistant coaches a Bethel Park High School.
"I'm also happy that Mauro is able to return to the staff as offensive coordinator," continued Schmitt. "He'll work well with Carmen who was like a coach on the field when he played here."
The remainder of the coaching staff will be announced at a later date.
Schmitt, who was hired as head coach of the Dukes on March 21, opened spring practice on April 1. Practice concludes with the Red/Blue game on Saturday, April 23.
2005 DU COACHING STAFF AT A GLANCE
Jerry Schmitt - Head Coach
Joe Bernard - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Mauro Monz - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Bill Hurley - Defensive Backs
Tim Pichette - Defense Backs
Carmen Bricillo - Offensive Line
additional coaches to be announced
QUICK NOTES: Joe Bernard is in his third season at Duquesne ... former head coach at Fairfield University (2001-02) ... also served as Fairfield's defensive coordinator for five seasons (1996-00) ... DU finished last season ranked 14th nationally in total defense ... Mauro Monz served as Duquesne's offensive coordinator in 2001 & 2002 ... spent the last two seasons as head coach at West Virginia University Tech ... DU ranked 12th and 11th nationally in scoring offense during Monz's first stint as offensive coordinator ... Monz played at Duquesne from 1992-95 and was part of DU's first MAAC championship team (1995) ... Bill Hurley, a former NFL defensive back, is in his second season with the Dukes ... he was the quarterbacks coach and Jerry Schmitt was the offensive line coach at Bethel Park High School in 1989 ... Tim Pichette was part of five MAAC championship teams as an undergrad ... came back from a season-ending knee injury to earn all conference honors in 2003 ... this is his second season as a coach ... Carmen Bricillo was a starting offensive lineman for Duquesne's first two MAAC champions (1995 & 1996) ... like Monz and Pichette, he was also a first team All-MAAC player.
SPRING GAME SET FOR APRIL 23
First-year head coach Jerry Schmitt will conclude spring practice with the annual Red/Blue game on Saturday, April 23 on Rooney Field. The team will take the field at 6:00 p.m. with the scrimmage expected to start around 6:30 p.m. The game is open to the public and admission is free. Duquesne returns 16 starters from last year's 7-3 MAAC Champion squad. The Dukes, who return 10 first team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League players, have won eight MAAC titles in the last 10 years including the last six in a row. DU will enter the 2005 with a nation's best 33-game conference win streak.
