Youngstown State Head Football Coach Eric Wolford announced on Tuesday that Mauro Monz has joined the Penguins' staff as tight ends coach. Also, with Spring Practice set to open on Wednesday, Wolford released assignment adjustments involving his current group of assistants.
On offense, current assistant coach Andre Coleman moves from coaching the tight ends to wide receivers and assistant coach Louie Matsakis assumes the role of recruiting coordinator. Matsakis will continue as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator, Carmen Bricillo will remain as offensive line coach and Shane Montgomery remains as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
On defense, second-year coordinator Rick Kravitz will coach the safeties, Rollen Smith will coach the cornerbacks, while Frank J. Buffano and Ron Stoops Jr. will handle the linebacking corps. Assistant Head Coach Tom Sims will continue his role as the defensive line coach.
Monz brings 14 years of collegiate coaching experience to Youngstown State.
Monz, who has two years of head coaching experience, has been an assistant at Akron, Duquesne and Robert Morris. He was the head coach for two seasons (2003-04) at West Virginia Tech, an NAIA school in Montgomery, W. Va.
He was with Akron from 2006-09 moving from a director of football operations post to wide receivers coach his final three seasons.
Most recently, Monz spent the 2010 campaign as a special offensive assistant at Robert Morris under Head Coach Joe Walton. The Colonials had a stellar season wining the Northeast Conference title and advancing to the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history. RMU averaged 28.5 points per contest and 358.3 yards a game. Seven times the Colonials scored at least 30 points and the offense scored 43 touchdowns in 12 games.
Monz spent the 2005 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duquesne for Head Coach Jerry Schmitt.
The Penguins open spring drills on Wednesday at Stambaugh Stadium. Practice is set to begin around 4 p.m.
