Middlebury College Men's Football

Doug Mandigo ’96 was named the Michael G. Heinecken Head Coach of Football in December 2022 after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebacker’s coach for 11 seasons.    AT MIDDLEBURY Coaching Record 3x NESCAC Championships (2013, 2019, 2023) Helped guide program to first 9-0 season in NESCAC history (2019) 5x All-Americans (2023, 2024, 2025) 3x Coached NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year honorees (2000, 2019, 2023) 4x Coached NESCAC Rookie of the Year selections (2003, 2012, 2019, 2021) 4x CSC Academic All-America recipients (2023, 2024) 13x CSC Academic All-District honorees (2023, 2024, 2025) AWARDS AND HONORS 2023 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year COACHING RESUME Michael G. Heinecken Head Coach of Football - Middlebury College (2022-present) Associate Head Coach - Middlebury College (2022 Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach - Middlebury College (2011-2022) Assistant softball coach - Middlebury College (2012-2018) Assistant football coach - United Football League’s (UFL) Hartford Colonials (2010) Assistant women’s hockey coach - Wesleyan University (2009-2010) Defensive coordinator - Wesleyan University (2006-2009) Assistant baseball coach - Wesleyan University (2009) Head football coach - Piedmont High School (2005) Assistant baseball coach - Ohlone College (2005) Defensive coordinator and secondary football coach - Middlebury College (2000-2004) Graduate assistant football coach - Boston College (1998-1999) Defensive coordinator and secondary football coach - St. Anselm College (1997) Assistant football, women’s hockey and baseball coach - Middlebury College (1996-1997) EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor’s Degree - Middlebury College - 1996 Master’s Degree - Education - Boston College - 2001 ATHLETIC CAREER Three-sport athlete at Middlebury (football, ice hockey and baseball) Served as team captain of the baseball team during his senior year  The full history for the Middlebury football program can be found here. 

Jason Thomas was named the offensive coordinator prior to the 2023 season. Thomas previously served as the outside linebackers coach since 2021 and was an assistant coach for the Panthers during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.  AT MIDDLEBURY 2x NESCAC Championships (2007, 2023) 5x All-Americans (2023, 2024, 2025) Coached 2007 NESCAC Rookie of the Year AWARDS AND HONORS 2x NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year (2007, 2023) COACHING RESUME Offensive coordinator - Middlebury College (2023-present) Assistant football coach/outside linebackers - Middlebury College (2021-2022) Head football coach - Flint Hill School (2019-2020) Head football coach - Burr and Burton Academy (2008-2018) Assistant football coach/wide receivers - Middlebury College (2006-2007) Graduate assistant football coach/quarterbacks and wide receivers - University at Buffalo (2005) Assistant football coach/wide receivers - University of New Hampshire (2003-2004) Assistant football coach/wide receivers - Randolph-Macon College (2002) EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance and Operations Management - University of Massachusetts Amherst - 1998 Master of Science Degree - Educational Leadership - University of New England - 2010 ATHLETIC CAREER Four-year member and two-year letterwinner for the University of Massachusetts Amherst football team (1994-1997) The full history of the Middlebury football program can be found here.

Dave Caputi ’81 joined the Middlebury football staff as the offensive coordinator in 2015 and held that title until 2023. He currently serves as the running backs and tight ends coach and has also worked with the Panthers’ offensive line group. AT MIDDLEBURY 2023 NESCAC Co-Champions 2019 NESCAC Championship 5x All-Americans (2023, 2024, 2025) Coached the 2019 NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year 2x Coached NESCAC Rookie of the Year selections (2019, 2021) Helped guide program to first 9-0 season in NESCAC history (2019) AWARDS AND HONORS 2023 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year COACHING RESUME Running backs/tight ends coach - Middlebury College (2025-present) Offensive line coach - Middlebury College (2023-2025) Offensive coordinator - Middlebury College (2015-2023) Head football coach - Bowdoin College (1999-2014) Offensive coordinator - Williams College (1986-1999) Quarterback and secondary coach - Tufts University (1985-1986) Offensive backfield and receivers coach - Amherst College (1983-1985) EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor’s Degree - American History - Middlebury College - 1981 Master’s Degree - Education - North Adams State College - 1994 ATHLETIC CAREER Starting quarterback for the Middlebury squad that finished the 1980 season with a 6-1-1 record The full history for the Middlebury football program can be found here.

Gus Brakeley joined the athletics staff as an assistant football and men’s lacrosse coach in 2009. He has coached the defensive line for over 10 years, previously working with the running backs and tight ends for two seasons.   Brakeley’s men’s lacrosse bio can be found here.    AT MIDDLEBURY 3x NESCAC Championships (2013, 2019, 2023) 6x All-Americans (2012, 2023, 2024, 2025) 2x Coached NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year honorees (2019, 2023) 3x Coached NESCAC Rookie of the Year selections (2012, 2019, 2021) Helped guide program to first 9-0 season in NESCAC history (2019) AWARDS AND HONORS 2023 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year COACHING RESUME Defensive line coach - Middlebury College (2012-present) Assistant football coach - Middlebury College (2009-present) Assistant men’s lacrosse coach - Middlebury College (2009-present) Running backs/tight ends coach - Middlebury College (2009-2011) Assistant football and men’s lacrosse coach - Middlebury Union High School - (2006-2009) EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor’s Degree - Political Science - University of Canterbury (New Zealand) - 2003 Master’s Degree - Political Science & Government - University of Canterbury (New Zealand) - 2006 ATHLETIC CAREER 1998 Vermont Shrine Maple Sugar All-Star  The full history for the Middlebury football program can be found here.

Anthony Marsella rejoined the Middlebury football staff in the spring of 2024, coaching the running backs and tight ends. He will serve as the recruiting coordinator and will work with the wide receivers in 2025. Marsella was previously an assistant coach at Middlebury from 2011 through 2016. AT MIDDLEBURY 2013 NESCAC Championship 3x All-Americans (2024, 2025) COACHING RESUME Wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator - Middlebury College (2025-present) Running backs/tight ends coach - Middlebury College (2024) Assistant football coach - Castleton University (2019-2024) Assistant football coach - Salve Regina University (2016-2019) Assistant football coach - Middlebury College (2011-2016) Assistant football coach - Mount Ida College (2010-2011) Assistant football coach - Wesleyan University (2009-2010) EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor’s Degree - Sociology - Wesleyan - 2008 ATHLETIC CAREER Member of the Wesleyan football team, earning varsity letters in 2007 and 2008 The full history for the Middlebury football program can be found here.

Kevin Woodring ’20 joined the football staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2025. He will work with the Panther offensive line this season. AT MIDDLEBURY 1x All-American (2025) COACHING RESUME Assistant coach/offensive line coach - Middlebury College (2025-present) Tight ends coach - Sacred Heart University (2023-2025) Graduate assistant defensive line coach - Springfield College (2021-2022) AWARDS & HONORS 2024 Yankee Conference Championship Helped coach Springfield to a pair of New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Championships (2021, 2022) EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor of Science - Economics - Middlebury College - 2020 Master of Education Degree - Physical Education - Springfield College - 2023 ATHLETIC CAREER Four-year member of the Middlebury football and baseball programs Served as team captain on the 2019 football squad that went 9-0 (first in NESCAC history) and won the NESCAC Championship 3x All-NESCAC selection 3x NESCAC All-Academic 3x CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District selection The full history of the Middlebury football program can be found here.

Ryan Paquette was named the defensive coordinator in 2023. He also serves as the defensive backs coach. He held the title of recruiting coordinator from 2014 to 2022. Paquette is also the director of strength and conditioning for all varsity sports at Middlebury.  FOOTBALL AT MIDDLEBURY 2023 NESCAC Co-Champions 2019 NESCAC Championship Helped guide the program to the first 9-0 season in NESCAC history (2019) 5x All-Americans (2023, 2024, 2025) 2x Coached NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year (2019, 2023) 2x Coached NESCAC Rookie of the Year (2019, 2021) 13x All-NESCAC defensive back recipients STRENGTH & CONDITIONING AT MIDDLEBURY Provides sport-specific strength plans and instruction for varsity teams Implemented the use of Volt Athletics to enhance the strength and conditioning experience for student-athletes  AWARDS AND HONORS 2023 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year COACHING RESUME Defensive coordinator - Middlebury College (2023-present) Director of strength and conditioning - Middlebury College (2014-present) Assistant football coach (defensive backs) and recruiting coordinator - Middlebury College (2014-2023) Defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach - Maine Maritime Academy (2012-2014) Assistant football coach - Salve Regina University (2008-2012) Assistant football coach - The Pingree School (2007) EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor’s Degree - Sport Management - Endicott College - 2007 Certified by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) as a Specialist in Strength and Conditioning Certified member of the United States of America Weightlifting (USAW) Level 1 Coach National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) member ATHLETIC CAREER Three-year letter winner for the Endicott football team 2x Academic All-Conference selection The full history of the Middlebury football program can be found here.