Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Men's Football

Frank Sheptock returned to his alma matter after being named the 28th head football coach in program history on December 20, 2019. Prior to the 2024 season, Bloomsburg was selected to finish eighth in the PSAC East by the vote of the league’s coaches. Using the preseason selection as motivation, the Sheptock-led Huskies finished the 2024 campaign 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the PSAC East and the third-ranked team in the East. The winning record was the first for the Huskies since 2018. Four Huskies earned All-PSAC East honors as Giovanni Cancro was a repeat honoree and Jerry Griffen-Batchler, Charles Crews III and Ryan D’Ambra earned their first career honors.   The Huskies finished in the top half of the conference in scoring (21.4 points per game) and points allowed (23.9). Bloomsburg was ranked sixth in the PSAC in rushing defense (125.4 yards per game) and seventh in passing offense (216.3 yards per game. Bloomsburg was the least penalized team in the PSAC, with just 42.6 penalties yards per game.   The 2023 Huskies went 3-8 on the year and finished 2-5 in the PSAC East. The season was highlighted by the 14-10 win over then-ranked #20 Shepherd University. Following the season, six players earned All-PSAC East honors as Quentin Gaskill and Kaleb Monaco repeated as all-conference honorees and Giovanni Cancro, Tom Goetz, Nas Jones, and Nadir McLeod earned their first career accolades. The six selections were the most for the Huskies under Coach Sheptock. The Huskies finished as the No. 3 defense in the PSAC, allowing just 21.2 points per game and the top passing defense in the conference. The Huskies allowed just 156.3 yards per game to their opponents and a league-low nine passing touchdowns. Opponents averaged 5.7 yards per catch at the Bloomsburg staunch defense. The offensive line allowed the league’s fewest sacks against with 12 in 12 games and just 87 yards on sacks taken.   In 2022, the Huskies went 4-7 (3-5 PSAC) under the guidance of Sheptock. The team produced five All-Conference selections in Chris Monaco, Kaleb Monaco, Matthew Bowes, Quentin Gaskill and Billy Martin II. The five all-conference selections were the most for Bloomsburg since the 2018 season. Statistically, the Huskies finished in the top-half of the conference in several statistical categories - including least amount of sacks allowed (2nd, 14), red zone defense (5th, 71.4%) field goal percentage (5th, 80%) and least amount of penalties (T3rd, 56). Following the postponement of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, the Huskies went 3-8 (2-5 PSAC) in 2021 during Sheptock's first season at the helm. The team recorded its first shutout victory under Sheptock when the Huskies blanked Lock Haven by a final tally of 44-0 on Homecoming. Following the season, three players were named to the PSAC East All-Conference team as AJ Simon, Quentin Gaskill and Kaleb Monaco all landed spots on the postseason list. Sheptock returned to Bloomsburg in 2019 after a one-year stint at Misericordia University, where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Prior to that, Sheptock was the head coach, and athletic director, at Berwick High School from 2016-19 and went 27-11 overall after taking over for legendary head coach George Curry. Sheptock's Berwick teams reached the District 2 Class 4A title game in his first two seasons and a trip to the district semifinals in his final year.   Prior to spending the 2015 campaign as the defensive line coach at Bloomsburg University, Sheptock was at Division III Wilkes University as the defensive coordinator from 1990-95 and then took over the Colonels' program and served as head coach from 1996-2014. While at Wilkes, Sheptock went 107-81 overall and established the program record for most wins in a season (11) and career (107), while leading the Colonels to nine postseason appearances. His 2005 squad went 8-3 overall and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament while his 2006 team posted an 11-1 mark with an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.   The 2015 Huskies' squad led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division in scoring defense, rushing defense, and total defense. A member of the NCAA Division II Team of the Quarter Century (1973-97), Sheptock played linebacker for head coach George Landis and holds the school records for tackles in a career (537), single-season (159), and single-game (23), as well as career fumble recoveries (12). Before his arrival, Bloomsburg experienced a winless season and, in his freshman year, only won one contest. But, by his junior year, Sheptock helped lead the team to a tie for the conference crown and then in his senior season, the Huskies posted an undefeated regular season, won the PSAC title after a 31-9 win over IUP, and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals. His program record for tackles in a single-game, in fact, occurred during the national semifinal contest at North Alabama.   Sheptock was a four-time PSAC First Team selection, a three-time First Team Associated Press All-American, and All-East Region honoree for the Huskies. Sheptock was inducted into the Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, and was named to the PSAC's 150 Contributors of College Football in 2019 as one of Bloomsburg's ten honorees. He graduated from Bloomsburg University in 1986   Sheptock, and his wife, Lisa, currently residing in Berwick, have two daughters, Nicole and Kelly. Nicole is the wife of Eddie Tarlecky ('13), and they are the parents of Zachary. Updated on 8/31/25

Greg Kahn joined the Bloomsburg football staff in July, 2024 as the defensive line coach. Kahn’s coaching career spans over three decades and ranges the high school and collegiate levels, beginning in 1991 with his position as defensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Glen Mills Schools, where he also coached track and field. Kahn coached linebackers at Susquehanna University before making his way to Mifflinburg High School, where he worked as defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator. Kahn later became defensive line and defensive coordinator at Shikellamy High School. After Shikellamy, Kahn returned to his alma mater of Selinsgrove High School, coaching defensive line, outside linebackers and running backs. A PSAC product, Kahn played defensive tackle at Slippery Rock University under head coach George Mihalik, graduating in 1991. Kahn earned his Master’s degree from  Marywood University. Greg and his wife Dr. Mary Murphy-Kahn reside in Selinsgrove.  They have two sons, Ben and Joe, the latter a 2024 Bloomsburg graduate and former Husky defensive end.

Johnathan Pruden joined the Bloomsburg football staff in July of 2024 as the defensive backs coach.   Pruden comes from Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East rival West Chester after he spent a season with the Golden Rams in the same role in 2023. He has six years of collegiate football coaching experience and nine years overall as a college coach, including three seasons as an assistant track & field coach.   While at West Chester, Pruden was responsible for all aspects of coaching the defensive back unit while coordinating pre-season tryouts, training camps, and special workshops to support the team goals. Pruden’s defensive backs posted 11 interceptions in 2023, increasing the INT total by five from the season prior. West Chester collected five interceptions from three different players, including three by Izaiah McPherson. The five INT game was a program record for the Golden Rams.   Prior to joining the WCU staff, Pruden was the defensive backs coach at PSAC West opponent, Clarion, from 2022-2023. His unit had 12 interceptions during the 2022 season, ranking fifth in the PSAC, and had four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The defense gave up 51 fewer passing yards per game during 2022 than they did in 2021 under Pruden’s guidance. He also served as the head equipment manager during that time.   Pruden’s coaching career has included stops at the high school and college levels, most recently at Cherry Hill West High School in New Jersey from 2021-22. There, Pruden served as the assistant defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, as well as an assistant on the track & field teams. Before that, he was the defensive coordinator for the New Jersey Warriors Junior College football team in 2019, where he contributed to a victory over a National Rank Division opponent. He also spent a season as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Burlington City High School, where he developed his own playbook and formulated game plans.   Pruden was a scholarship athlete at Charleston, where he was part of the Golden Eagle team that ranked 10th in the nation. During his time there, he was voted a captain by his teammates. He later went on to work as a defensive backs coach for the Golden Eagles.   His experience also includes extensive work with video editing and production. Pruden has worked as a Saber Logger and Film Editor for NFL Films, creating edits with multiple camera angles, graphics and effects.   Pruden graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Social and Behavioral Science from Los Angeles Pierce College in 2014. He later earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports and Fitness Administration from the University of Charleston (W.Va.) in 2020. 7/25/2024

Josh Bernocco begins his fifth season on the Bloomsburg football staff in the fall of 2024. Bernocco began his time with the Huskies as a student-assistant coach in 2020 and will serve as the wide receivers coach and video coordinator for the 2024 season.   Bernocco spent time as the tight ends coach and the assistant defensive backs coach.   The 2023 Bloomsburg grad coached the wide receivers during the 2023 season and was responsible for the install, meetings, academics and grading of his position group. Bernocco helped coordinate special teams and did all aspects of video coordination. He broke down film after practice, labeled game film, and did the league film exchange.   Bernocco is also responsible for the social media management for Bloomsburg football. He manages the team’s official X and Instagram accounts and provided program exposure with highlights, updates, and facilitated prospective student-athlete recruitment.   He also facilitates the prospect visits from developing agendas, providing campus tours, and maintaining relationships with prospective student-athletes and their families and supporters.   Bernocco graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business education and information technology analytics in 2023 and completed his masters of education in business education in December of 2023.  

Long time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC coaching mainstay, Chris Sprague, joined the Bloomsburg football coaching staff in March of 2023 as the Huskies’ offensive line coach. During the 2023 season, the Huskies rushed for 122.55 yards per game and junior Kaleb Monaco had the best season of his career with 952 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, and had six touchdowns on the ground. The offensive line was one of the best in the PSAC, allowing the fewest sacks against (11) and fewest total sack yards (76). Prior to joining the Huskies, Sprague spent the 2022 season at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. While at Bentley, the Falcons rushed for 180.6 yards per game and had 13 touchdowns on the ground. The offensive line allowed just 14 sacks for 84 yards during the 2022 season. Prior to joining the staff at Bentley, Sprague made his second stop at PSAC-foe, Lock Haven. Sprague was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Bald Eagles from 2020-21 and was the defensive line coach in 2019. Prior to taking o-line position in 2020, he had at various times coached the defensive line, served as the run game coordinator, been the assistant head coach, the special teams coordinator the linebackers coach and a strength and conditioning coach. Under Sprague’s leadership in 2019, the defensive line helped pave the way for a defensive unit that pressured opponents into throwing 11 interceptions. The Bald Eagles recorded 37 tackles for loss and nine sacks last season in 2019. Prior to 2019, Sprague was no stranger to LHU football as he previously served as an assistant coach in some capacity or another at Lock Haven for nearly two decades. From 1997 to 2014 at Lock Haven, he held positions of defensive line coach, offensive line coach, special team's coordinator, linebackers coach and during his final four seasons at LHU (2011-14) he held the title of assistant head coach. After the 2014 season, Sprague joined the coaching staff at Delaware State and served as the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator for three seasons from 2015-2017. Since 1997, Sprague has led 27 players to All-Conference honors and three standouts to All-American status. Also a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Sprague was four-year letter-winner and three-year starter at Ithaca. He helped lead the team to a 1988 NCAA Division II National Championship. Sprague began his coaching career as a graduate assistant and restricted earnings offensive line coach at James Madison University from 1990-93. He followed that with three years at Penn State where he was a defensive quality control coach. During that time, the Nittany Lions competed in the Rose, Outback and Fiesta bowls. Sprague is a 1990 graduate of Ithaca College where he was a three-year starter, part of the 1988 NCAA Division III national championship team and a member of the 1985 NCAA Division III national runner-up team. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in physical education from Ithaca, Sprague earned his Master of Science in physical education from James Madison in 1993.     7/25/2024

Long-tenured collegiate football coach Tim Landis joined the Bloomsburg staff in March of 2024 as the Huskies’ offensive coordinator.   Landis oversaw an offense that produced 3,692 total yards (an average of 335.6 yards per game), including 1,520 rushing yards (3.4 yards per attempt, 119.4 per game) and 2,379 passing yards (9.44 yards per attempt, 216.3 per game). The Huskies tallied 34 offensive touchdowns and averaged 5.8 yards per play, while averaging 21.36 points per game. Under his guidance, the team achieved 53 third-down conversions on 131 tries (40.46%), though they trailed slightly on average time of possession (28:41 vs. opponents’ 31:19). Junior quarterback KJ Riley threw for 2,034 yards in 2024 and moved to ninth all-time at Bloomsburg in career passing yards with 4,323 and 30 touchdowns.   Landis came to Bloomsburg most recently from Lycoming College where he was the quarterbacks coach and special teams coordinator from 2012-2022. At Lycoming, Landis helped lead the team to the top of the MAC in several categories, leading the conference in blocked punts in 2015, net punting in 2016, PAT kicking and kickoff return defense in 2017, punt return defense in 2018 and both kick return and punt return defense in 2019. He has also coached six all-conference selections and an all-region selection on special teams.   In 2015, Landis mentored a new starting quarterback for the Warriors to one of the best performances in program history. The offense finished that year fourth in program history with 3,806 yards of total offense, while the team's average of 5.7 yards per play was also fourth in program history. In 2018, the Warriors led the conference in passing yards per completion (15.1), as Landis mentored the team's first freshman starter in 12 years.   In 2014, Landis helped the Warriors to an 8-2 overall record in his first year as quarterbacks coach, leading quarterback Tyler Jenny to one of the most memorable campaigns in program history, as he passed for 2,404 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also earned all-conference honors. The team's offense racked up a school record 415.0 yards of total offense per game.   In his first year with the Warriors, Landis helped the team capture its 15th Middle Atlantic Conference title, as the team finished with a 7-3 overall record and a 7-2 mark in league play as the team's tight ends coach. He coached an all-conference tight end in Greg Kovacs ’14 and also helped transform the team’s special teams’ game into one that blocked five kicks, one shy of the school record, and led the MAC in net punting average (35.04) and kickoff return yardage (21.49). After the football season in 2015, he stepped in as interim golf coach, coaching two all-conference selections, including the first women's player in program history to earn All-MAC honors in Hailey Fricke.   Prior to his arrival in Williamsport, Landis recorded an 89-103-1 record in 18 years as a collegiate head coach, recording 12 winning seasons during that span.   In 2011, he served as the head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, posting a 4-5 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the Liberty League. He spent the 2010 season as the tight ends coach at San Jose State University, where he also served as the offensive coordinator.   No stranger to Central Pennsylvania, Landis was the head coach at Bucknell University from 2003-09, leading the Bison to a .500 or better record three times and compiling a 32-46 record. His teams were among the best FCS schools in rushing offense, finishing in the top 10 in 2003, 2004 and 2006. The 2003 (6-6) and 2004 (7-4) teams both finished in third place in the Patriot League. Among the student-athletes Landis coached at Bucknell were All-American and National Football League standout Sean Conover as well as Academic All-Americans Justin Gibson and David Frisbey. Landis enjoyed similar success at St. Mary’s, as his teams finished .500 or better in each of his three seasons (2000-02). The 2000 squad finished fourth in the FCS in rushing offense (309.5 yards per game) and the Gaels broke numerous school offensive records. With a 6-5 record in 2001 and 6-6 in 2002, Landis was named the Division I-AA Independent Coach of the Year. He began his collegiate head coaching career at Davidson, starting in 1993 when he was one of the youngest Division I head coaches at age 29. He helped turn the Wildcats around, guiding the team to school single-season records of eight wins in 1998 (8-2) and again in 1999 (8-3), his final year. Four of his teams finished better than .500 as he compiled a record of 35-36-1. In his final season at Davidson, the defense led the nation with a school-record 28 interceptions. Landis' special teams unit blocked a FCS (then Division I-AA) record 13 kicks in 1999, and the defense allowed only 101 rushing yards per game to rank 13th in the nation. In 1998, the Wildcats ranked first nationally in pass efficiency defense, second in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and 12th in rushing defense. A native of Yardley, Pa., and a 1982 graduate of The Hun School in Princeton, N.J., Landis earned a bachelor’s in English from Randolph-Macon College in 1986. An All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) First Team honoree both as a quarterback in football and a pitcher in baseball, Landis was the ODAC Baseball Player of the Year in 1986 and earned the school's Compton Award for excellence in academics and athletics. In 2002, he was inducted into The Hun School's Hall of Fame, and in 2000, was inducted into the Randolph-Macon Athletic Hall of Fame. His first coaching position was a one-year stint at Randolph-Macon, mentoring the wide receivers in 1986. In 1988, he began a three-year tenure as head football and baseball coach at Morrisville (Pa.) High School in the suburban Philadelphia area, where he led the football team to an 8-2 record and a state ranking while capturing numerous Coach of the Year honors. He also guided the baseball team to a conference championship. During his final two years at the school, he also served as athletics director. Landis returned to the collegiate level in 1991, when he was hired as the defensive line coach at Davidson.   Landis and his wife Karen, have three sons, T.J., Jack and Charlie, and one daughter, Jordan. They reside in Lewisburg. Update 9/1/24