March 25, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University head football coach Tom Masella announced the addition of three assistant coaches to his staff with the hiring of Malik Hall, Ed Morrissey and John Wholley. Hall will direct the defensive line and serve as the special teams coordinator while Morrissey will be in charge of the offensive line and will be the recruiting coordinator and Wholley will coach the running backs and slot receivers. Additionally, Masella announced that assistant coach Patrick Moore has been elevated to defensive coordinator while assistant Bryan Volk has been promoted to offensive coordinator.

Hall returns to Fordham after spending the past two years on the staff at Hofstra University where he coached the defensive line. In 2008, the Pride defense was the top-rated passing defense in the CAA while in 2007, Hofstra ranked first in the CAA and 11th in the FCS in rushing defense and second in the conference and 15th in the nation in total defense.

Hall's first stint at Fordham was during the 2006 season when he served as the defensive line coach and assistant special teams coach for Masella. During his time at Rose Hill, the Detroit, Michigan native helped develop a I-AA All-America selection and two All-Patriot League picks.

Prior to his year at Fordham, Hall served as defensive line coach at Central Connecticut State University under Masella in 2004 and 2005.

A December 2003 graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in sociology and education, Hall was a three-year letterman, starting on the Minutemen's defensive line as a senior in 2003.

Morrissey arrives at Rose Hill after serving as a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon the past three years. He assisted with the Ducks' defensive line in 2006 before moving to the offensive side of the football in 2007. At Oregon, Morrissey coached in three bowl games, the 2006 Las Vegas Bowl, 2007 Sun Bowl and the 2008 Holiday Bowl.

Prior to his stay in Eugene, Morrissey spent two seasons as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Massachusetts. While at UMass, Morrissey coached a two-time first-team all-conference running back and its recruiting class was ranked No. 2 in the country in 2004.

Morrissey also served as an assistant at Northeastern from 1999-2003 and as an assistant at Brown University from 1997-99, helping the Bears to the 1999 Ivy League title.

Following his graduation from Plymouth State College in 1992, Morrissey remained with the Panthers as a student assistant in 1993. A quarterback in college, he then became a graduate assistant at Springfield College from 1994-1996.

Wholley, a former UConn running back, joins Masella's staff after serving as an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater the past three years. His responsibilities with the Huskies included coordinating the defensive scout team and analyzing game films of UConn's opponents.

Prior to UConn, Wholley spent the 2005 season as an offensive assistant at Central Connecticut working with the Blue Devils' offense and the tight ends in particular under Masella.

Wholley arrived in New Britain after completing his collegiate career at UConn in 2004, earning a varsity letter that season after appearing in five games. He originally made the UConn team as a walk-on but earned a scholarship through his hard work. Wholley appeared in a total of 12 games at UConn after transferring from Wagner College, where he played in all but two games as a freshman in 2000. Prior to UConn, he was an All-Conference and All-Hartford Courant pick, leading Southington High School to the state championship as a junior in 1998.

A native of Southington, Conn., Wholley earned a bachelor's degree in political science from UConn in December of 2004 and a master's degree in sports management in 2008.

Moore is entering his third season as a member of the Fordham coaching staff, guiding the linebackers and serving as the special teams coordinator the past two years.

Last year, Moore's punt return unit led the Patriot League with an average of 9.4 yards/return while the passing defense was ranked first in the League. In his first year at Rose Hill, Moore's special teams led all of the NCAA Division I in net punting with an average of 40.52 yards/punt while the defense ranked 13th in the NCAA FCS in tackles for loss, averaging 7.75/game.

Volk begins his fourth year on Masella's staff, serving as the quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator the past three years before his promotion to offensive coordinator in 2009.

Last year, quarterback John Skelton became the Fordham career leader in passing yards while also tying the school career mark for completions. As Recruiting Coordinator at Rose Hill, Volk helped bring in over 78 quality freshmen over the past three years, many of who have seen significant playing time, including running back Xavier Martin, the 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, and Skelton, a Second Team All-Patriot League selection in 2007.

The Rams will kick off their spring practice schedule on Friday morning and will open the 2009 season on Saturday, September 5th, as they travel to Kingston, R.I., to face the University of Rhode Island.