By By Nick Pipitone
With the retirement of long-time head coach Joe Gardi, the football team enters the off-season with its first coaching vacancy since 1990. Coming off a 7-4 season, its first winning record since 2001, the hire should be critical to a team looking to rebound from half a decade of futility.
According to associate athletic director for communications Jim Sheehan, the University “expects to make a decision before holiday break.”
“The search for a new head coach is progressing and we will conduct interviews in the near future,” Sheehan said. “We have an outstanding pool of candidates and many resumes.”
Sheehan would not give the names of any candidates, but many around the program think that defensive coordinator and associate head coach Greg Gigantino is an early candidate for the job.
Gigantino was defensive coordinator for the Pride from 1990 to 1997 before leaving for an assistant head coaching position at Cornell University.
Gigantino returned to the Pride in 2001 and is now in his fifth year of his second tenure with the team. Gardi promoted him to associate head coach in 2002. Next season, he will be entering his 29th year of coaching.
“I obviously want to be head coach,” Gigantino said. “I’ve been with the program for 13 years, I’m a Hofstra guy. It’s a great program and I want to stay here. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
While Gigantino has been rumored to be an early candidate for the position, it is still not clear whether or not he is the front-runner.
Sheehan said “he could neither confirm nor deny his [Gigantino’s] candidacy.”
The well-respected coach has a good rapport with players and team officials and has been endorsed by Gardi and several returning players. Following the season finale, a 21-10 home win over the University of Massachusetts, Gardi said he recommended Gigantino to Hayes. His mutual respect with players has also earned him their support.
“Most of us think that [Gigantino] should get the job,” returning RB Kareem Huggins said. “He’s the best for the job and he already knows the team well enough.”
Players think this long tenure with the team will help keep in tact the tradition and atmosphere the Pride has developed over the past few seasons. In addition, the team’s success this past season could be a main reason for his promotion instead of an outside hiring.
“I’ve got a good feeling that [Gigantino] is going to come back,” returning WR Charles Sullivan said. “If he becomes coach, he will probably keep the same position coaches.”
Ultimately, second-year Athletic Director Hayes will make the decision. It will be only the second hiring in Hayes’ brief tenure, but arguably the most important.
“Whenever there is a change in staff, the decision is very important,” Sheehan said. “With the program in an upswing right now, it is especially important.”