Pittsburgh, Pa. – Duquesne University head football coach
Jerry Schmitt has announced the hiring of former Duquesne head coach Greg Gattuso back to the Dukes football staff as Associate Head Coach – Defense.
"We are excited to welcome Coach Greg Gattuso back to the Duquesne Football family.
Greg brings 36 years of experience at the FBS and FCS levels, including 23 years as a head coach, and that knowledge will have an immediate impact on our staff and student-athletes. As the first head coach of Duquesne's FCS era, he helped establish the foundation and standard of excellence that still define our program today.
His return strengthens our football family and reinforces the tradition and pride that make Duquesne Football special," said Schmitt.
Gattuso returns to the Bluff 21 seasons after serving as the Dukes' head coach for 12 seasons from 1993–2004. He became the first head coach of Duquesne's FCS era, guiding the program's transition from Division III to Division I-AA (now FCS).
During his tenure, Gattuso compiled a 97-32 (.752) overall record, capturing eight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) titles. He was a seven-time MAAC Coach of the Year and twice earned Don Hansen's Football Gazette I-AA Mid-Major National Coach of the Year honors (1995, 2003).
Gattuso capped the 2003 season by leading Duquesne to the consensus I-AA Mid-Major National Championship. That championship team was inducted into the Duquesne Athletics Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Duquesne dominated MAAC play under Gattuso, posting a 66-7 (.904) conference record that included a 33-game league winning streak. That streak was later extended to 39 consecutive conference victories under Schmitt — a mark that remains tied for the longest in FCS history.
"As I wind down my career, the opportunity to coach at my alma mater, Penn State, and to return to the place I love most, Duquesne University, is truly a dream come true," said Gattuso. "To be able to do that while working alongside a great friend like Jerry Schmitt makes it incredibly special."
Gattuso most recently served as senior defensive analyst at Penn State, his alma mater, where he was a standout defensive lineman on the Nittany Lions' 1982 national championship team.
He spent 11 seasons (2014–24) as head coach at UAlbany, elevating the Great Danes to new heights at the FCS level. His overall career head coaching mark stands at 151-101 (.599).
During his tenure, UAlbany captured six Golden Apple trophies, made two FCS playoff appearances and earned three playoff victories. Gattuso was named CAA Coach of the Year twice (2019, 2023) and received the 2023 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coach of the Year award. The 2023 season marked the most successful campaign in school history, as the Great Danes finished 11-4 overall and 7-1 in CAA play.
Gattuso has produced NFL talent at nearly every level of his coaching career. Twelve UAlbany players signed NFL contracts during his tenure, adding to a pipeline that began during his first stint at Duquesne, where Leigh Bodden and Josh Rue reached NFL rosters. His Dukes teams also made five ECAC Bowl/Classic appearances and produced three Associated Press All-Americans along with over 90 first-team all-conference selections.
Following his Duquesne tenure, Gattuso spent six seasons at Pitt, coaching three Big East Defensive Players of the Year as defensive line coach while also serving as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. He later coached three seasons at Maryland as defensive line coach and was named assistant head coach in 2012, mentoring multiple all-conference performers and future NFL players.
Gattuso's ties to Duquesne football date to 1987, when he served as a part-time assistant for one season. He returned to the Bluff on a full-time basis in 1992 as the program's first full-time assistant coach and was elevated to head coach following Dan McCann's retirement after the 1992 season.
A Pittsburgh native, Gattuso was named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Class AA Player of the Year at Seton-LaSalle High School. He went on to become a two-time All-East defensive lineman at Penn State and graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in administration of justice.
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