Allegheny College Men's Football

Following an extensive national search, Allegheny College announced the return of former offensive coordinator Braden Layer as the 36th head football coach in program history on Thursday, March 2, 2023. A veteran coach with a decade of experience at the Division I and III levels, Layer boasts a track record of success on the offensive side of the ball as he's risen through the ranks from position coach to passing game coordinator, offensive coordinator, and play caller. During that time, he spent two seasons overseeing one of Allegheny's most explosive offensive units in recent years. During his first stint in Meadville in 2017 and 2018, Layer served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Under his watch, Allegheny enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in the past 12 years while several student-athletes posted career numbers. The team doubled its total in the win column between Layer's first and second year. In the fall of 2017, quarterback Logan Lee '19 set program records for passing yards (3,002) and touchdowns (33) in a season before graduating as the all-time leader in career touchdown passes (63). Lee's favorite target, Alex Victor '20, developed into the most prolific receiver in team history and, to this day, is the only Gator to surpass 3,000 career receiving yards and 200 catches. Running back Tyler Balla '19 also exploded onto the scene in Layer's offense and graduated among the all-time top-10 rushers with more than 2,400 yards. Most recently, Layer spent the 2022 campaign as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at the University of Dayton. The Flyers, a Division I FCS institution and Pioneer Football League (PFL) member, went 8-3 and tied for second in the PFL with a 6-2 league record. Layer also spent three years leading the offense and recruiting efforts at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, from 2019-22. With the Polar Bears, he mentored the only two running backs in school history to receive All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) First-Team honors. A former All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) wide receiver at Denison University, Layer began his coaching career in 2013 as a graduate assistant at Division I Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, before spending two years at his alma mater as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. In 2016, he joined the staff at Sewanee: The University Of The South, a Division III member of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA), as co-offensive coordinator. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Layer graduated from Denison in December 2012 with a degree in communications and economics. A four-year letterwinner for the Big Red, he received Academic All-America accolades from College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and was an All-NCAC First Team selection in his final season. Layer completed his master's in health and human performance in 2014 while at Austin Peay. Allegheny Head Coaching Highlights 2025 Nine All-PAC Honorees: David Williams (2nd), Dominic Beraducci (HM), Colin Colucci (HM), Ryan Croston (HM), Harrison Eckert (HM), Will Griffin (HM), Devin Larry (HM), Dylan Reid (HM), Aidan Watt (HM) 2024 Six All-PAC Honorees: Carson Messemer (HM), Chris Gisewhite (HM), Josh Salisbury (HM), Coltin Colucci (HM), Vital Joseph II (HM), Trevor Brncic (HM) 2023 PAC Newcomer of the Year: David Williams Two All-Region Selections: Will Griffin (1st), Declan O'Brien (2nd) Nine All-PAC Honorees: Declan O'Brien (1st), Jack Turner (2nd), Jack Johnson (HM), Kyrie Miller (HM), Austin Williams (HM), Malcom Denomme (HM), Nigel Williams (HM), Jayden Thorpe (HM), David Williams (HM)  

Matt Cochran returns to Meadville for his second stint with the Gators in 2023. Allegheny's offensive line coach during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, he helped Layer - AC's offensive coordinator at the time - build one of the College's most explosive offenses in recent memory in those two years. Since leaving Northwest Pennsylvania, Cochran has climbed the ladder under former Allegheny head coach BJ Hammer at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. As the Polar Bears' offensive line coach and run-game coordinator, he helped Bowdoin running back Andre Eden earn New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Co-Rookie of the Year and All-NESCAC First-Team accolades in 2021. Eden became the first Polar Bear in program history to lead the NESCAC in rushing that season. Cochran was elevated to offensive coordinator for the 2022 season, leading Bowdoin to one of its best offensive seasons since 2009. Cochran, a four-year letter winner as an offensive lineman at Denison University, graduated in 2014 with a degree in economics. He also received a master's in sport leadership from Wesley College in 2017.  

A former All-Patriot League selection during his playing days at Division I Lafayette College, Jake Taggart relocated to Meadville for his first year with the Gators in 2023. Taggart was recognized with first-team accolades in the spring of 2021 as a fullback/H-back for the Leopards. Since then, he's worked with the wide receivers at Alfred University as a graduate assistant. He helped Alfred receiver Jacob Kelsey develop into an Empire 8 All-Conference selection in 2022 as one of the conference's top pass catchers. In addition to his duties as co-offensive coordinator for the junior varsity program, Taggart assisted with special teams analysis. He earned a bachelor of science in Psychology from Lafayette in 2021.

Allegheny College head football coach Braden Layer announced the hiring of Aaron Alvarez in April of 2024. After a season as a graduate assistant and safeties coach at Division II Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, Alvarez will oversee Allegheny's defensive backs. In his one year with the Cavaliers, the defense increased its interception total by 33% and recorded 18 total takeaways while allowing nearly six less points per game. He also assisted with game-planning, organizing scout teams on offense and special teams, and worked with the recruiting coordinator to cover parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. A 2023 graduate of Marietta College, Alvarez was a four-year member of the football team but was limited due to injury.  

Allegheny College head football coach Braden Layer announced the addition of Clay Denstorff to the Gators' coaching staff in April of 2024. Denstorff will work primarily on the defensive side of the ball with Allegheny's outside linebackers. Before joining the Gators, Denstorff was one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) over the past three years. He was a two-year captain and three-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) selection at Denison University. In 31 career games, he racked up 131 tackles, 27.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and three interceptions. The Perrysburg, Ohio, native graduated second all-time in program history in sacks and tackles for loss (47). In 2022, he was included on the All-NCAC First Team and D3football.com All-Region Second Team. As a senior, he led the NCAC with 15.5 tackles for a loss and tied for first in the conference with 10 sacks. Denstorff received his bachelor's degree in communications in December.  

Tyler Wills enters his first season as an assistant football coach and outside linebackers coach at Allegheny College. Wills joined Allegheny following stints at Christopher Newport University and Averett University. His coaching career began at Averett, where he completed his MBA as a graduate assistant in 2022 and 2023. Wills served as a recruiting coordinator in his second season with the Cougars while working with the team's tight ends. In 2024, he coached running backs and tight ends at CNU, helping the Captains to a 7-3 record with the second-ranked rushing offense in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). As a student-athlete, Wills was a four-year member of the football program at Emory and Henry University in Emory, Virginia, from 2018-21. The Wasps, then members of the Division III Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), posted a 20-13 overall record during his tenure as an offensive lineman and long snapper. He also earned a letter on the men's tennis team in 2021-22, helping the Wasps go 13-6 as a key member of the doubles lineup. Wills, a two-time All-ODAC Academic Team selection, graduated from E&H with a bachelor of arts in health and human performance in the spring of 2022.

Devin Williams  Recruiting coordinator Running backs coach Allegheny college

Matt Hanhold joined the Allegheny coaching staff prior to the 2022 season. He was promoted to Defensive Coordinator ahead of the 2023 season.   Hanhold arrives in Meadville after serving on the staff at Clarion since May of 2019. While with the Golden Eagles, Hanhold served in many capacities, including Interim Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers and Defensive Line Coach, Recruiting and Travel Coordinator and Union Vice President for Coaches. He was also a member of the Clarion staff from 2006-2008 as the graduate assistant, coaching wide receivers and defensive backs.    Before returning to Clarion, Hanhold worked on the staff at Baldwin Wallace, helping the Yellow Jackets reach number 21 in the national rankings. He worked with linebackers and defensive linemen while serving as the Special Teams Coordinator, helping the team achieve the top rated punt defense in Division III.    Throughout his coaching career, Hanhold also held positions at Cincinnati Country Day as the Head Coach from 2017-18, Colby as the Associate Head Coach from 2012-2017 and Buffalo State as the Wide Receivers Coach from 2008-2012.   As a student-athlete at Westminster, Hanhold was a team captain, three-year letter winner and an All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) selection.    Hanhold graduated from Westminster with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and earned a Master of Science in Rehabilitative Sciences from Clarion.