Lock Haven University Men's Football

Head Coach Joe Battaglia Entering 2nd season at Lock Haven: 6-5 overall Joe Battaglia, who lead the Bald Eagles on an historic run in 2025, enters his second season as the Lock Haven head football coach.    Year 1 (2025) By The Numbers: The 2025 season for the Lock Haven football team was a season of destiny and an historic one for Battaglia, who led the Bald Eagles to their first winning season in 44 years.  The Haven finished 2025 with a 6-5 overall record and 4-3 mark in the PSAC East. Three of Lock Haven's losses came at the hands of top-10 teams in the NCAA DII Football Super Region One.   The Bald Eagles, who have won 16 games over a three-year stretch, clinched their third consecutive five-or-more win seasons in a row. With victories over West Chester, Shippensburg and Millersville, the Bald Eagles also secured their first three-game winning streak since 1981.  Following the season, six Bald Eagles were named to the All-PSAC East Football team, led by First Team selections from Markel Morgan (Defensive Back) and Rocco Daugherty (Linebacker).  Jackson Ostrowsky (Quarterback), Justin Popovich (Wide Receiver), Damir Green (Running Back) and Rhys McDonald (Defensive Line) were all honored on the Second Team Academic Honors (TBA) Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach (2022-2025): Battaglia, who was named the interim head coach in mid-January (2025), first joined the Lock Haven football staff in April of 2022 as the offensive coordinator.      Since taking over offensive-play calling duties for the Bald Eagles in 2022, Battaglia has turned The Haven's offense into one of the most prolific in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), both through the air and on the ground.    In 2024, quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky finished the season with 3,203 passing yards, 291.18 passing yards-per-game and 27 passing-touchdowns, all of which led the PSAC. All of those marks also stand as Lock Haven single-season passing records. All-American wide receiver T'iar Young won the PSAC receiving triple crown after earning the top marks in receiving yards (1,146), receiving yards-per-game (104.2) and receiving touchdowns (11).   In 2023, current Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) running back Chris Collier earned multiple All-American honors and was named PSAC Offensive Player of the Year, after leading the league in rushing and breaking the Lock Haven football program record for single-season rushing yards (1,393).   Both Ostrowsky (2024) and Collier (2023) where nominated for the Harlon Hill award, which is given to the top player in Division II football and equivalent the Heisman trophy at the DI level.   Much of Lock Haven’s recent on-field success was fueled by the Battaglia-led offense, and in 2023 when Lock Haven won five games, it stood as the Bald Eagles’ first five-win season in 42 years (1982). The Haven has now posted 10 wins in two seasons (2023 and 2024), the most victories in a two-year stretch since Lock Haven won 11 games in 1981 (6) and 1982 (5).   When Battaglia joined Lock Haven’s staff in 2022, he added nearly a decade of coaching experience following stints at Division I Coastal Carolina, Temple and Georgia Tech.   Before coming to The Haven, Battaglia was on staff at Georgia Tech, where he served as an offensive analyst and assistant who aided the development of quarterbacks and draft prospects. Prior to his stint at Georgia Tech, Battaglia served the Temple staff in a similar capacity. Under Battaglia’s tutelage, Owls’ quarterback Anthony Russo was named to the Maxwell Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watchlists. Battaglia got his start in coaching at Coastal Carolina, where he mentored the tight ends and inside wide receivers. At Coastal Carolina he guided seven different players to All-Big South Conference accolades.   Prior to his coaching days, Battaglia was a quarterback for one season at Division III Hartwick College.   He earned a degree in business administration from Coastal Carolina in 2014, before earning a master’s degree from both Temple and Georgia Institute of Technology.     Updated: 11/20/2025    

Michael Derasmo, who was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in 2023, enters his fifth season with the Bald Eagles  Derasmo serves as the Defensive Coordinator at Lock Haven and has also served as the program’s Head Strength & Conditioning Coach since joining the staff in 2022. As Head of Strength & Conditioning, he is responsible for the physical development of the football program, overseeing year-round training, performance preparation, and player development. Promoted to Defensive Coordinator for the 2023 season, Derasmo oversees all defensive operations. The Bald Eagles allowed 42.6 points per game in 2022, ranking 158th nationally, last in the country & last in the PSAC. The Bald Eagles improved to 25.8 points per game by 2025, a reduction of 16.8 points per contest. That progression extended across all major defensive categories. Lock Haven reduced opponent total yards from 433.7 per game in 2022 to 361.1 in 2025, while rushing defense saw one of the most dramatic improvements in the conference, dropping from 208.1 yards allowed per game to 130.4. The 2025 season marked a breakthrough for the unit, as the defense developed into one of the most disruptive groups in the PSAC. Lock Haven finished 1st in the conference and 17th nationally with 14 interceptions, more than doubling its total from 2022, while also increasing sack production and forced turnovers. This defensive progress played a key role in the program’s first winning season since 1981 and its first back-to-back five-win seasons since that time. Since 2023, Lock Haven has developed multiple All-PSAC defenders under his leadership. A total of three First Team All-PSAC honorees Markell Morgan (Safety) & Rocco Daugherty (Linebacker) in 2025, and Cody Romano (Linebacker) in 2023. Also, two Second Team selections are Rhys McDonald (Defensive End) in 2025 and Kasir Henry (Safety) in 2023.  Derasmo started his coaching career at Anna Maria College Division III, starting off as outside linebackers and Head Strength & Conditioning coach in 2019 then transitioned to defensive backs in 2020. Derasmo played a pivotal role in helping lead Anna Maria to their first winning season & conference championship in program history in 2021.  In 2019, Derasmo earned his Master of Science degree in Coaching & Sport education with a focus in Human Performance from West Virginia University. Derasmo was a collegiate linebacker and team captain at Division II West Virginia Wesleyan from 2013-15. Derasmo started his college career at NJCAA Dakota College at Bottineau from 2011-2012, in 2012 he was the captain & led the team in tackles  As a Native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Derasmo graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 2011. Derasmo and his Wife, Emma, have a daughter, Carmen.    *Updated: March 2026

In the spring of 2026, Petite was evavated to offensive coordinator, while remaining in charge of the offensive line. The 2026 season will be his fifth with the Bald Eagles. Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Jeri Petite was named the offensive line coach at Lock Haven.   The 2022 season ushered in a new era for Lock Haven football under new leadership and it started in thrilling fashion. During Week 1 action on the road, the Bald Eagles held off post, 35-34, for an exciting victory.   He previously coached the offensive line and was also the running game coordinator at Calvert Hall College High School since 2020. Prior to that, Petite served as the offensive line coach at Wagner University. Petite graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2017 with his bachelor’s in Physical Education, while minoring in Business Administration.   During his tenure at Calvert Hall, Petite helped the Cardinals capture the 2021 MIAA Conference championship, and also saw one of his linemen earn First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-Metro.   *Updated: Feb. 2026