|
The only head coach in the history of football at Monmouth, Kevin Callahan has developed a winning tradition in West Long Branch.
Beginning his 18th season at the helm of the Hawks, Callahan has amassed a 101-72 record while his teams have captured Northeast Conference titles in five of the 13 seasons the league has sponsored football. Along the way, Monmouth has been ranked among the top 20 in total offense on two occasions and in total defense five times. Meanwhile, numerous players have earned conference, regional and national honors. Regarded as an outstanding coach by his peers, Callahan served as the President of the FCS Football Coaches Committee in 2007-08. He has been a member of the committee since 2002.
On Oct. 31, 2009, Callahan and the Monmouth program reached another milestone as the Hawks recorded the 100th win in program history with a win over Bryant University at Kessler Field. Defensive back Jose Gumbs earned Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a redshirt sophomore; while five other Hawks earn spots on NEC All-Conference teams. David Sinisi ended his career by breaking over 30 school records, while becoming the NEC all-time leader in scoring and rushing yards. The two-time Walter Payton Award candidate led all active Division I football players (FBS and FCS) in scoring and led all active FCS players in yards rushing, rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns. Academically, 22 Hawks were named to the NEC Academic Honor Roll and Jon Stolarz and Andrew Musick were two of just 53 FCS players named to the NACDA Academic All-Star Team.
Callahan led the Hawks to their 10th winning season in 2008, finishing with a 7-4 overall record and a 6-1 NEC mark. Monmouth started the season with three straight losses, including losing to the CAA’s Rhode Island and NCAA playoff team Maine by a total of seven points, but rallied to win seven of its final eight games. In conference play, the Hawks outscored their opponents 210-134, losing only to eventual league champion Albany. Monmouth’s first victory of the season, a 30-17 win over Bryant on Sept. 20, was also a milestone for Callahan, who tallied his 90th career coaching win. MU earned three major conference awards for the first time in program history, with Sinisi (then a junior) earning Offensive Player of the Year after finishing second in the NCAA in rushing. Sinisi, who ended the season tied for first among all FCS players in scoring, was one of 16 players in the nation named to the Walter Payton Award watch list. Gumbs was named Defensive Rookie of the Year while nine total Hawks earned All-NEC honors. In the classroom, Kevin Walsh, the Defensive Player of the Year, and center Andrew Musick, were named to ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II team for the second straight year.
The 2007 season found the Hawks facing one of their toughest schedules, including a road contest against Delaware, who went on to the FCS National Championship game. Callahan’s squad lost half of its starters from 2006’s NEC Championship team but armed with a load of young talent, the Hawks won three of their last four games and had 10 athletes recognized as all-conference performers. Callahan’s squad boasted the top passing attack in the NEC, while Monmouth’s turnover margin of +12 was 12th in all of the Football Championship Subdivision. Monmouth’s defense, complete with nine new starters, allowed the fewest first downs among conference members. Off the field, Callahan had 16 student athletes named to the NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. Two of those players, juniors Kevin Walsh and Andrew Musick, were named to ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II, with Walsh being one of 54 players nationally named to the NACDA Division I Academic All-Star Team.
In 2006, Callahan led the Hawks to their first ever outright Northeast Conference Championship, their third in four years. Monmouth finished the season going 10-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play, earning a bid to play in the first ever Gridiron Classic, which was held at Kessler Field. The Blue & White defense finished first in Division I-AA in scoring defense, allowing just 12.67 points per game. A number of Hawks earned individual awards in 2006, with three players being named to the Sports Network Mid-Major All-America teams and three players named All-East Region from Don Hansen’s football Gazette. Callahan also earned his third NEC Coach of the Year award, as the Hawks placed 11 players on the All-Conference teams. He was inducted to the Jersey Shore Hall of Fame after the 2006 season.
Coach Callahan’s squads also excelled in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, the Hawks won their first-ever I-AA Mid-Major National Championship as they were award The Sports Network Cup following a 10-1 campaign. The 2004 season also brought MU their second consecutive NEC title and the fourth in the program’s history with a 6-1 mark in league action.
In 2003, Callahan led the Blue and White to its first-ever post-season action, a 12-10 loss to Duquesne in the ECAC Football Classic. Along the way, he coached Monmouth to the best start in school history (8-0) and the most wins in school annals (10-2). With the success, which included a share of the school’s third league title, Callahan was named the NEC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. He was also named Coach of the Year by the New Jersey Sports Writers Association.
In 1998, Callahan was first recognized for his coaching excellence as he was tabbed the NEC Coach of the Year after leading the Hawks to their second NEC championship in three years. The team established over 30 new school records that season and featured one of the top offenses and defenses in Division I-AA.
Prior to accepting the head coaching position at Monmouth in August of 1992, Callahan served as assistant coach at Colgate University for eight seasons. While with the Raiders, Callahan served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, while tutoring the linebackers and secondary. He also coordinated recruiting efforts for Colgate.
Callahan coached 11 All-Patriot League players as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator. Colgate allowed just 111.9 rushing yards per game in 1987 to rank ninth in the country. In 1990, CU was among the nation’s leaders in total defense and set a team record for fewest total yards allowed in an 11-game season.
Callahan groomed his defensive coordinating skills at Wagner College from 1981 to 1983. During his three seasons with the Seahawks, Callahan served as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. In his three seasons at the Staten Island school, the Seahawks compiled a 25-4-2 record and were ranked in the top 10 in Division III each of his three seasons. In 1983, Wagner reached the quarterfinals of the Division III playoffs.
In 1980, Callahan served as an assistant coach under Frank Maloney at Syracuse University. He served as the assistant offensive backfield coach for the Orangemen.
A native of Elmira, N.Y., Callahan began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for three seasons at the University of Albany from 1977 to 1979. In 1977 he served as the Great Danes’ offensive backfield coach as they advanced to the semifinals of the Division III playoffs. In 1978 and 1979, Callahan served as outside linebackers coach.
Callahan was a two-year standout on the playing field at the University of Rochester. He roamed the Yellowjackets’ defensive backfield from 1975 to 1976. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Rochester in 1977.
Callahan and his wife, Ann Marie, reside in Spring Lake with their two children.
CAREER COACHING RECORDS:
[OVERALL/ NORTHEAST CONFERENCE}
1993: 2-5
1994: 7-2
1995: 7-3
1996: 7-3 / 3-1 (1st)
1997: 5-4 / 3-1 (2nd)
1998: 5-5 / 4-1 (1st)
1999: 2-8 / 2-5 (6th)
2000: 5-6 / 4-4 (5th)
2001: 7-3 / 5-2 (3rd)
2002: 2-8 / 2-5 (6th)
2003: 10-2 / 6-1 (1st)
2004: 10-1 / 6-1 (1st)
2005: 6-4 / 4-3 (3rd)
2006: 10-2/6-1 (1st)
2007: 4-6/3-3 (3rd)
2008: 7-4/6-1 (2nd)
2009: 5-6/4-4 (5th)
TOTALS: 101-72 / 58-33 (NEC)
|
