Paul McGonagle Named Endicott Football Head Coach

BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott College Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics Brian Wylie, Ph.D. has announced the hiring of Paul McGonagle as the third head football coach in Endicott program history. McGonagle comes to Endicott from NCAA Division II Assumption College where he most recently served as the Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator - among several other coaching roles - in his five-year tenure with the program.

"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Paul McGonagle to the Endicott Community as our next head football coach. In all of his coaching experiences, Coach McGonagle has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the academic success and community involvement of the student-athletes involved in his program. That, coupled with his collaborative approach to working with others and ensuring growth and leadership within his program, has yielded tremendous success both on and off the field," said Wylie.

This past season, McGonagle helped guide the Greyhounds to an 11-2 overall record and an 8-1 Northeast-10 Conference (NE10) record, in addition to a NE10 championship and an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament Quarterfinal Round.

Over his career at Assumption, the Greyhounds went 44-16 overall (.733) and 36-9 (.800) in conference play, won two NE10 titles and appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times. McGonagle was also named the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Division II Assistant Coach of the Year in 2016. 

Meanwhile, for the past three seasons, McGonagle's offense at Assumption has ranked tops in the NE10 in points per game - which includes this season's program record of 43.4 points per game - and No. 25 or higher among all NCAA Division II programs (170 teams) over that stretch (2017 - No. 6 | 2016 - No. 25 | No. 17 - 2015). 

"I am excited and honored to be given the opportunity to be the head football coach at Endicott College and rejoin the Endicott Community," said McGonagle. I would like to thank President Dr. Richard Wylie, Vice President Mr. Tom Redman and Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics Brian Wylie for giving me this great opportunity to lead the Gulls."

No stranger to Endicott and its oceanside campus, McGonagle was an integral part of the program from 2011-12. During that time, the Gulls posted a school-record 10 wins in 2011, set numerous offensive records and won back-to-back Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships. Specifically, McGonagle coached senior tight end Taylor Allen to a career-high 35 receptions, 482 yards receiving, and six touchdowns. Allen went on to earn BSN All-American Third Team and NEFC Boyd Division First Team All-Conference honors before signing an undrafted rookie contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  

Established in 2003, the Endicott football program has produced seven winning seasons, captured two New England Football Conference (NEFC) championships and made a pair of appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and 2013.

QUICK RESUME

• 18 years of college coaching experience
• Assumption (2013-17), Endicott (2011-12, Offensive Assistant Coach), Fitchburg State (2007-10, Head Coach), Stony Brook (2004-06, Offensive Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator), Bentley (2003-06, Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line), Bucknell (2002, Running Backs), Eastern Kentucky (2000-01, Tight Ends / Running Backs), Northeastern (1999, Tight Ends / Running Backs)
• Coached two NFL players over his career (Scott Simonson, Oakland Raiders 2014, Carolina Panthers 2015-17 | Mackenzy Bernadeau, Carolina Panthers 2009-11, Dallas Cowboys 2012-15, Jacksonville Jaguars 2016)

EDUCATION

• 1999 graduate of the University of Kentucky
• Bachelor's degree in sport management (minor in business)
• Member of the Wildcat football team as a tight end and offensive lineman
• Was a teammate of former top draft pick Tim Couch
• Received his Master's degree in sport administration from Eastern Kentucky in 2001

ASSUMPTION COACHING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Recruiting areas included Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Ohio
• Associate Head Coach (June 21, 2017 to December 4, 2017)
• Assistant Head Coach (2014-16)
• Offensive Coordinator (2013-17)
• Tight Ends (2015-17)
• Quarterbacks (2013-14)

OTHER ASSUMPTION PROGRAM ACCOLADES

• Program record for wins in 2015 (11-2) and 2017 (11-2)
• Program record for conference wins program in 2015 (8-1), 2016 (8-1) and 2017 (8-1)
• Led Assumption to their first-ever NE10 title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015
• Set home attendance record three different seasons

ASSUMPTION STUDENT-ATHLETE ACCOLADES UNDER MCGONAGLE

• Coach nine All-Americans, 51 All-Region selections, 64 All-Conference honorees, and 49 All-Worcester Area student-athletes (includes all student-athletes)
• One NE10 Man of the Year
• Nine NE10 Major Award winners (includes MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, etc.)
• One CoSIDA Academic All-American / Three CoSIDA All-District selections
• 291 NE10 Commissioner's Honor Roll recipients (3.0 GPA or above)
• Two National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society members

MORE ON MCGONAGLE

Before Endicott, McGonagle spent four years as the head coach at Fitchburg State University, where he coached one of the nation's top offenses with the NEFC's leading passer and running back. Falcons running back Marlon Thornton was named a four-time All-Conference running back, as well as an All-Star by the New England Football Writers Association and Offensive Player of the Year by the Worcester Area Football Association.

Prior to taking over as head coach of the Falcons, McGonagle spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Bentley University. During his tenure, McGonagle's offense was number one in the nation in scoring offense at 46.4 points per game. He helped the Falcons to their first-ever NE10 Championship and NCAA II Playoff Berth as Bentley took on Grand Valley State, which was coached by Assumption alum and current Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly '85.

In addition, McGonagle also served as offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator at Stony Brook University, where the Seawolves captured their first-ever Northeast Conference Championship. He has had a vast array of coaching experience including stints at Bucknell University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Northeastern University. He has coached numerous All-Americans, Offensive Players of the Year, All-Conference players and NFL Draft selections. 

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(Photo Credit - Assumption College Athletics)