Eastern University Men's Football

Billy Crocker enters the 2026 season as the founding head football coach at Eastern University. He built the Eagles from a start-up program into a Middle Atlantic Conference champion and NCAA Tournament team in only three varsity seasons. Hired in December 2021 to launch Eastern football from scratch, Crocker oversaw every step of the program’s creation: building the first coaching staff, recruiting the first classes, establishing systems and standards, and guiding the Eagles through their first varsity season in 2023. After a 2-8 inaugural campaign, Eastern improved to 5-5 in 2024 before breaking through in historic fashion in 2025. In just its third official season, Eastern captured the MAC Championship, earned the program’s first NCAA Division III Tournament berth, defeated No. 16 Franklin & Marshall for its first postseason win, and advanced to the third round of the national tournament. The 2025 season cemented Crocker’s vision for the program. Eastern finished 10-2, claimed the MAC title with a 16-10 win at Stevenson, and became one of the fastest-rising programs in Division III football. For his leadership, Crocker was named MAC Coach of the Year and D3football.com Region 1 Coach of the Year. Eastern’s championship run was powered by player development across all three phases. Quarterback Brett Nabb was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-MAC after rushing for 1,341 yards and 11 touchdowns while passing for 1,305 yards and 11 scores. Nabb also earned Academic All-MAC, CSC Academic All-District, Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area Performer of the Year, and All-Region honors. His four rushing touchdowns in Eastern’s NCAA win at Franklin & Marshall helped deliver the first postseason victory in program history. Defensively, linebacker Jason Bateman became the first Eastern football player to earn All-America recognition after a dominant 2025 season. Bateman was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year, D3football.com Region 1 Defensive Player of the Year, and an AP Division III All-American after finishing with 97 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, seven forced fumbles, and four pass breakups. Crocker’s 2025 team produced 15 All-MAC honorees. First-Team selections included Nabb, offensive linemen Justin McNulty and Alvin Carpenter, fullback Dom Franks, defensive end Salif Nikiema, defensive back Tahjere Jackson-Alston, punter John Westfield, and long snapper Sean McNamara. Additional honorees included multi-time All-MAC linebacker Gashawn Moody Sr., defensive lineman Freddie DiNardo, kicker John Nolek, and returner Chris Rivera. Moody, one of the program’s foundational “Year Zero” players, earned his third All-MAC recognition and made the game-clinching interception in Eastern’s NCAA Tournament win. Before Eastern, Crocker built a strong résumé at the Division I level. He spent three seasons as defensive coordinator at Elon University, where his defenses emphasized takeaways and helped the Phoenix earn notable wins over nationally ranked opponents. At Elon, Crocker helped develop standout defensive players including Greg Liggs Jr., a unanimous All-American and Buck Buchanan Award finalist, and Marcus Willoughby, an All-CAA performer who earned an NFL opportunity. Prior to Elon, Crocker served two seasons as defensive coordinator at UConn under Randy Edsall, coordinating at the FBS level after a long and successful run at Villanova University. At Villanova, Crocker spent 12 seasons on staff, including five as defensive coordinator. He coached the defensive line, linebackers, and special teams before taking over the defense in 2012. His Villanova units ranked among the CAA and national leaders in multiple defensive categories and produced numerous All-CAA and All-America players, including Don Cherry, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Rakim Cox, Dillon Lucas, and Greg Miller. Crocker was an integral part of Hall of Fame coach Andy Talley’s staff through numerous NCAA Playoff appearances, including Wildcats 2009 FCS National Championship. A former Division III student-athlete at the United States Coast Guard Academy and a Villanova graduate, Crocker has built his career around toughness, development, discipline, and belief. At Eastern, those values have shaped a program that went from an idea to a champion in just a few seasons—and positioned the Eagles as one of the MAC’s premier football programs. Coach Crocker and his wife, Kristina, are the proud parents of three children – Ryan, Bryn and Will.     

Nate Hinkle enters his fifth season with Eastern Football serving as the Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Quarterbacks Coach after helping guide the Eagles through the most successful season in program history. In 2025, Hinkle helped lead Eastern to a 10-2 overall record and an 8-1 mark in conference play, capturing the program's first MAC Championship and earning the Eagles their first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Eastern's offense continued to establish itself as one of the conference's premier units, averaging 26.6 points and 348.3 yards per game while leading the MAC in rushing with 2,805 yards (233.8 per game) and 29 rushing touchdowns. The Eagles also set new program records for wins, points scored, rushing yards, and total offense. Under Hinkle's direction, quarterback Brett McNabb was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, while the Eagles produced multiple All-MAC and All-Region selections. Head Coach Billy Crocker was recognized as the MAC Coach of the Year, a reflection of the staff's role in building one of the fastest-rising programs in Division III football. Hinkle joined the Eastern University football staff as its first offensive coordinator in 2022 after a two-year stint as the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Widener University. The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native played collegiately at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where he started 22 consecutive games at defensive tackle, recording 46 tackles, two interceptions, and two sacks. Hinkle began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving in a variety of roles including running backs coach, tight ends coach, and Head of Football Operations. He later served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at King's College in 2018, helping lead the second-ranked rushing offense in the MAC. During his time at Widener, Hinkle coached eight All-MAC Conference players, one All-American, and one All-Region selection while helping lead the nation's top-ranked offense in total offense, touchdowns scored, and fewest sacks allowed in 2019. One of Head Coach Billy Crocker's original hires, Hinkle has played an integral role in building Eastern Football from a startup program into a conference champion and NCAA playoff team, while establishing a culture centered on player development, competitive excellence, and servant leadership.

 Steele Hess joins the Eastern University Football Staff as a defensive assistant working specifically with the defensive line. Hess comes to Eastern after a successful playing career as a defensive tackle at Wilkes University. He graduated with a degree in Sport Management in December , 2024. At Wilkes, Hess earned All-Landmark honors in each of his final two seasons. In helping the Colonels to a 7-4 finish in 2024, Hess finished with 54 tackles including eight and a half tackles for loss. He recorded five tackles and a sack in a rivalry game win at King's College, and he helped fuel a huge comeback win over St. John Fisher with a 54-yard interception return. The Colonels trailed 21-0 in that game before rallying to win 28-21.  Steele played in 42 games over his four-year career and finished with 219 tackles and 23 tackles for loss. The Whitehall, Pa. native will work under veteran Defensive Coordinator Kory David. Steele will pursue a Masters in Education at Eastern. 

Jordan Davis is an accomplished All-Conference running back and team captain who totaled over 2,000 all-purpose yards, including 1,800 rushing yards ranking 14th in KU history. A proven winner, he helped lead his team to a 2023 Regional Championship, earned two PSAC Championships, and three PSAC East titles, while scoring 14 touchdowns. Davis was also invited to the prestigious FCS Bowl and is recognized as a 2024 small school draft prospect. He is now coaching at Eastern University while continuing to pursue his dreams

Colin Scott joined the Eastern University Football Coaching Staff to lead the Offensive Line and will serve as the program's Run Game Coordinator. With his time working in Division III programs in four different States, Scott brings a wide range of coaching and recruiting experience to the Eastern staff. He arrived at Eastern after serving in a variety of roles at FDU-Florham. In addition to serving as the the Recruiting Coordinator, he worked with safeties and special teams and also served as the team's strength and conditioning coordinator and was most recently offensive line coach. Originally from New York, Scott was a three-year starter at St. Lawrence University. In his time in Canton, the Saints went 25-6 and amassed an 18-3 mark in Liberty League play. He played against Mount Union in the 2015 NCAA Playoffs. After graduating with a BA in Government, he began his coaching career in Pennsylvania with a short stint at Susquehanna followed by a more extended stay at King's College. He began as an H-Back coach and then became the Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator. At King's, he worked with current Eastern Offensive Coordinator Nate Hinkle. Scott had stints coaching offensive line at Methodist University in North Carolina and Maritime College in New York before returning to the MAC to work at FDU-Florham.