Aug. 6, 2012
Bronx, N.Y. -
Photo Gallery
The 2012 Fordham University football fall camp is three days old and before we start taking a look at the players who will be on the field for the Rams in 2012, let's meet the new members of head coach Joe Moorhead's coaching staff.
Moorhead brought along seven new assistant coaches when he was hired in December as well as retaining two members from the former staff. The group brings close to 100 combined years of experience to Rose Hill, experience at both the NCAA FCS and BCS levels.
Vincent White (Asst. Head Coach/Wide Receivers)
White, one of the most experienced members of the staff, has over 20 years of football coaching experience, most recently as the running backs coach at the University of New Mexico last fall, after serving for five years at Southeast Missouri State University as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He was a member of the 2010 Southeast Missouri staff that helped the Redhawks win the Ohio Valley Conference championship and advance to the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs.
Prior to his stay at Southeast Missouri State, White was the running backs coach at Delaware State in 2005 and served as head coach of St. Mary's College (Calif.) in 2004.
In 2001 and 2002, White was the running backs coach at Utah while also coaching the wide receivers in 2001. He produced the nation's 12th best rushing offense in 2001, one that averaged 218.9 yards per game.
White also coached at Arizona State (2000), leading the Sun Devils to the Aloha Bowl, and at Pittsburgh (1997-99), with an appearance in the 1997 Liberty Bowl. He began his collegiate coaching career in 1986 at Oregon Tech (1986-88) and then moved to Tennessee-Martin (1989) before making the jump to Division I ball. His first D-I job was at the University of the Pacific, where he served as offensive coordinator and coached the inside receivers from 1990-92.
A 1984 graduate of Stanford, White had an outstanding collegiate career for the Cardinal. He led all NCAA Division I-A players with 69 receptions in 1982 and was All-Pac 10 First Team and All-America Honorable Mention that season. White led the Cardinal with 15 touchdowns and 1,275 all-purpose yards.
David Blackwell (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
Blackwell also brings 20 years of coaching experience to Fordham, most recently as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of South Florida in 2009 along with stints at Clemson (2003-08), Pittsburgh (2000-02), Illinois State (1998-99) and his alma mater, East Carolina (1992-95).
In 2009, Blackwell directed a South Florida defense that ranked 24th in the NCAA FBS in total defense and tied for 19th in scoring defense, finishing the season with a win over Northern Illinois in the 2010 International Bowl.
At Clemson, Blackwell was in charge of the linebackers, helping to lead a resurgence Tigers' defense. Clemson was bowl eligible in all six of Blackwell's seasons on staff and were ranked in the top 25 of both polls in three of those seasons.
The Greenville, S.C. native has significant experience at the Division I level as both a defensive coach and recruiter. He was the linebackers coach at Pittsburgh from 2000-02 and helped the Panthers to three straight bowl games during that period.
Prior to his stop at Pittsburgh, Blackwell served as assistant coach at Illinois State from 1996-99, leading the Redbirds to one of the top turnarounds in Division I-AA during that period. In his final year with the Redbirds, Illinois State compiled a school-best 11-3 record and advanced to the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs before losing to eventual National Champion Georgia Southern.
A 1997 graduate of East Carolina with a bachelor's degree in exercise science, Blackwell was an offensive lineman as a freshman for the Pirates in 1990 before his playing career was cut short by a neck injury.
Andrew Breiner (Pass Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
Breiner, a 2006 graduate of Lock Haven (Pa.) University, followed Moorhead to Fordham after serving as a graduate assistant for the past three years at Connecticut.
At UConn, Breiner worked with the quarterbacks and wide receivers in 2009 and 2010 and the quarterbacks and running backs in 2011. He was part of the staff that helped the Huskies to the 2010 BIG EAST championship and an appearance in the 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl while in 2010, UConn appeared in the PapaJohns.com Bowl and received the Lambert Trophy, presented annually to the best team in the Northeast in Division I FBS college football.
Prior to his stay at UConn, Breiner was an assistant coach at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., for two seasons, working with the quarterbacks in 2008 and the wide receivers in 2007.
A Dean's List student, Breiner graduated in 2006 from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania with a degree in health and physical education. He was a four-year letter winner with the Bald Eagles as a wide receiver and also played special teams.
Joel Rodriguez (Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line)
Joel Rodriguez, a former lineman at the University of Miami, arrives at Fordham after serving as the offensive line coach at Bryant University for the past four years, helping the Bulldogs make the transition from NCAA Div. II to NCAA FCS.
Last year, Rodriguez guided an offensive line that helped running back Jordan Brown lead the NCAA FCS in rushing, averaging 165.0 yards/game while, in 2010, the Bulldogs allowed just 14 sacks in eight conference games, ranking in the top half of the league in that category.
Prior to his four years at Bryant, Rodriguez was a graduate assistant coach at Mississippi in the spring of 2007.
A 2006 graduate of the University of Miami, Rodriguez was a standout offensive lineman with the Hurricanes from 2001-04, garnering Verizon Academic All-District honors during his career and being named to three BIG EAST All-Academic teams and one ACC All-Academic squad. He was the starting center and anchor on the offensive line as a junior and senior.
Following his collegiate career, Rodriguez signed a free-agent contract with the NFL's Tennessee Titans following graduation and was a member of the practice squad in 2005 before being allocated to the NFL Europe Berlin Thunder in 2006.
Shane Fogarty (Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends)
Fogarty arrives at Fordham after a playing and coaching career at Connecticut, serving as a graduate assistant for the Huskies the past two years, coaching the defensive backs and linebackers. He was a member of the 2010 staff that led the Huskies to the BIG EAST total and an appearance in the 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Prior to his stay in Storrs, Fogarty spent the 2009 season as an assistant at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, where he coached the wide receivers and helped the Cadets to the 2009 ECFC championship.
Fogarty has also served as an assistant coach at Trinity College (2006-08) and served as a head coach and offensive coordinator for the Carinthian Black Lions in the Austrian Football League in 2008
A 2006 graduate of UConn with a degree in history, Fogarty was a member of the Husky football program from 2002-05, earning a letter in his senior season. While at UConn, he earned the Joseph M. Giannelli Unsung Hero Award as well as the Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes Award for Academic Excellence in the football program.
Peter McCarty (Defensive Line)
McCarty, who brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to Fordham, was the defensive line coach at Cornell University for the past two years where he led the Big Red's defensive line.
McCarty's extensive coaching experience at the college level includes stops at Stanford, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Illinois, Syracuse, Central Florida, Holy Cross and Western Michigan.
Prior to his stay in Ithaca, McCarty served for three years as the defensive line coach at Western Michigan University (2007-09). Under McCarty's tutelage, the Bronco defensive line ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in sacks in 2007 and 2008, third in tackles for loss and rush defense in 2008 and fourth in total defense and tackles for loss in 2007.
From 2004-06, McCarty was the defensive line coach at the University of Central Florida under head coach George O'Leary while in 2002 and 2003 he was an assistant coach at Stanford. Prior to Stanford, McCarty was the defensive tackles coach in 2001 at Georgia Tech under O'Leary. The Yellow Jackets went 8-5 that year, finishing the season ranked 24th, and defeated #11 Stanford in the Seattle Bowl.
Previous to Georgia Tech, McCarty spent four seasons (1997-2000) as the defensive tackles coach at Illinois under Ron Turner, helping the Fighting Illini to a victory in the 1999 Micronpc.com Bowl. That was the first of three bowl trips McCarty has made with different schools followed by the 2005 Hawaii Bowl team with UCF and the 2001 Seattle Bowl with Georgia Tech.
McCarty was the defensive ends and linebackers coach at Maryland for five years (1992-96) under head coach Mark Duffner and he also worked for Duffner as the outside linebackers coach at Holy Cross for five seasons (1986-90).
A 1978 graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in education, McCarty was an all-conference linebacker for the Minutemen in 1977. He also earned a master's degree in physical education from Syracuse in 1982.
Tim Zetts (Running Backs)
Zetts, a former University of Akron quarterback, arrived at Rose Hill after serving as an assistant coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2011, coaching the running backs and assisting with the kickoff return, punt return and field goals units last fall.
Prior to his stay at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Zetts was a member of the football staff at California University of Pennsylvania in 2010 and the University of Akron from 2008-09. While with the Vulcans in 2010, Zetts worked closely with offensive coordinator Walt Harris, former head coach at both Pitt and Stanford. He helped the team win a share of the conference championships and earn a bid to the NCAA Div. II playoffs.
At his alma mater, Zetts served as an offensive student assistant and assistant quarterback coach in 2008 and 2009. While a member of the Zips coaching staff, he worked with Harris and current Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead.
A 2009 graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in business and organization communications, Zetts was a backup quarterback for the Zips when they won the Mid-American Conference title in 2005, before leaving in 2007 to compete for the starting job at Saginaw Valley State. He returned to Akron in 2008 after an ACL tear to begin his coaching career.
The Rams also have two assistants who return from last year's staff:
Tim Cary (Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
Cary begins the third year of his second stint at Fordham in 2012. In between his positions at Fordham, he served for three years on the University of Connecticut staff with Moorhead.
Last fall, under Cary's tutelage, Ian Williams ranked fourth in the Patriot League in passes defended, averaging 1.00/game and he was fourth on the team in total tackles with 54 while fellow defensive back Brendan Melanophy was fifth with 53 total stops.
In 2010, Cary helped bring in the first scholarship recruiting class for the Rams since the 1954 season while also guiding the defensive backs, including current New Orleans Saint Isa Abdul-Quddus, who led the team and was eleventh in the Patriot League with 78 tackles.
For the previous three years, Cary served as a graduate assistant at the University of Connecticut. In this role, he assisted in coaching the defensive backs, including three NFL draft picks. During his time in Storrs, the Huskies appeared in the Papa John's Bowl (2009), the International Bowl (2009 - following the 2008 season) and the Meineke Car Care Bowl (2007), winning both the Papa John's and International Bowls.
A 2005 graduate of Fairfield University, Cary earned a Bachelor's degree in economics. He was a member of the Stags football program for two seasons before the school discontinued the sport. He also received a Master's degree in sports administration from UConn.
Nate Slutzky (Cornerbacks)
Slutzky, who served as a player development coach at Rutgers in 2009, is in his third year at Fordham in 2012.
Last fall, Slutzky coached outside linebackers Andre Delaire and Nick Womack, who combined to make 129 tackles, including nine for loss, and three interceptions. Delaire ranked second on the squad with 81 total stops while Womack was seventh with 38.
At Rutgers in 2009, Slutzky worked closely with the offensive coaches, players and academic staff as the Scarlet Knights earned a bid to the St. Petersburg Bowl after finishing the season with a 9-4 record.
Prior to his stint at Rutgers, Slutzky was the outside linebackers coach and assistant special teams coordinator at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, from 2007-09.
Slutzky received his start in coaching at his alma mater, the University of Colorado, in 2007 where he was a football operations assistant.
A 2007 graduate of Colorado, Slutzky received a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in economics.
Doug Papy (Quarterbacks)
After suiting up for the past four years for the Rams, Papy remains at Fordham to assists in the coaching of the quarterbacks.
Last year, Papy completed all six of his pass attempts for 33 yards, finishing the season with a 146.20 efficiency rating.
A graduate of Gulliver Prep in Pinecrest, Florida, where he earned varsity letters in football, Papy was a Second Team All-Dade County pick as a senior and an Honorable Mention selection as a junior. He led 2007 team to the FHSAA state playoffs, completing 63 of 114 passes for 1,077 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior while also rushing for four scores.
The Rams open the 2012 season on Thursday, August 30th, when they host the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on Jack Coffey Field at 7:00 p.m. Fordham season and individual game tickets are now on sale. For information or to order click here or call the Ticket Office at 855-RAM-TIXS (855-716-8497) or (718) 817-4759.
Notes
Rams Don the Pads: Sunday's practice was the first in which the Rams were able to wear pads, but they were limited to shoulder pads only. The team won't be able to go full pads until Tuesday and then will have its first double session on Wednesday before the first camp scrimmage on Thursday.
New Addition: The Rams added another player to the roster but he's not your usual college football player. Stephen George, an offensive lineman, arrived on Rose Hill during the first day of practice. He is a graduate student with one year of eligibility.
