Saint Anselm College Men's Football

Joe Adam, the 2023 Northeast 10 Conference Coach of the Year, completed his tenth season as the head coach of the Saint Anselm College football team in 2025. Adam was named to the position on Apr. 19, 2016. At Saint Anselm, Adam recently passed legendary Head Coach Cleo O’Donnell for the most in program history with a 34-10 victory over Pace on Aug. 30, 2025. Adam came to the Hilltop with more than 20 years of coaching experience with success at all levels of NCAA football, having been a part of two NCAA Division II National Championships. Adam has taken his teams to bowl games and helped a program reach the NCAA playoffs for the first time in the school’s history. Saint Anselm posted a 5-5 overall record in 2025, including a 5-3 mark in NE10 play, marking the fourth consecutive season the Hawks finished at .500. Adam coached nine student-athletes to All-Conference recognition, highlighted by senior defensive back Hugo Silsby’s First Team selection. The Hawks also finished 5-5 overall and 5-3 in league play during the 2024 season, the program’s third straight .500 campaign for the first time since 2000–02. That year, Adam again coached nine student-athletes to NE10 All-Conference honors, including three First Team selections. In 2023, Adam led Saint Anselm to its best finish to a season in modern-day program history (since 1999). The team ended the year with a 6-4 overall record and came in second place in the NE10 after going 5-2 in conference games. The Hawks had previously never ended a season higher than fifth place since the NE10 began sponsoring football in 2001. The 2023 season also marked the program's second consecutive winning campaign, which was the first time that has been done in the modern-day era as well. Adam coached 10 players to various All-Conference rosters that were named at season's end, including First Team defensive selections in both Taylor Pawelkoski and Max Tempchin, on his way to earning NE10 Coach of the Year honors. It was his first ever Coach of the Year award and marked the second time in program history such a feat has been accomplished. During the season, Adam and the Hawks earned wins over Assumption, Bentley, and New Haven. It was the first time that any Saint Anselm team has beaten all three NE10 powerhouses in the same year. Adam's defensive unit in particular showed out that fall. The Hawks concluded the 2023 regular season ranked third in all of NCAA Division II in fumbles recovered (13), sixth in first downs allowed (136), 10th in blocked kicks (six), 10th in opposing third-down conversion percentage (26.9%), and 11th in blocked punts (three). The stout Saint Anselm defense allowed just 142.4 passing yards per game, the seventh-best figure in the country. In 2022, the Hawks ranked 21st in the nation in total defense, allowing just 4.55 yards per play and held opponents to an average of 285.9 yards per game. The Hawks were second in the NE10 in passing yards allowed per game (157.8) and recovered a league-high 15 fumbles to go with 13 interceptions. On the offensive side of the ball, Saint Anselm averaged a league-best 255.7 yards per game, scoring 20 passing touchdowns.  Saint Anselm tied the program record for wins in a season (6) and finished with a winning record for the first time since 2014. Eight Hawk student-athletes earned All-Conference recognition at season’s end including First Team selection Anthony Brown.  In 2021, the Hawks ranked at the top of the NE10 in 2021 in several statistical categories, including passing offense (314.7 - ninth in NCAA Division II), team tackles for a loss per game (7.7), and fumbles lost (three). The well-rounded Hawks ranked second in the conference in punt return yardage (12.15), sacks allowed (1.11), tackles for a loss allowed (4.11) and total offensive yards per game (380.9). Saint Anselm won three out of its four games played on the Hilltop and had four student-athletes earn All-Conference honors from the NE10 following the season. The Hawks roster also featured the NE10’s overall Rookie of the Year in sophomore Drew Willoughby. Under Adam’s direction in 2019, the Hawks recorded their first three-game winning streak in five seasons and had a single-season record 12 student-athletes earn NE10 All-Conference honors. The offense threw for over 3,200 yards in 2019, averaging just shy of 300 passing yards per game. Saint Anselm scored over 300 points for just the third time in team history. The Hawks played an arduous schedule in 2019, including three non-conference games - all Hawks opponents combined to win 52 games, the strongest win total of any NE10 program’s opponents. Adam also mentored the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, CJ Miller, who went on to earn All-America honors from both the AFCA and the D2CCA. Miller was also a finalist for the prestigious Cliff Harris Award, issued to the country’s top small college defensive student-athlete. Saint Anselm had seven of its football student-athletes earn All-Conference honors from the NE10 after the 2018 season, the 20th modern-day football campaign on the Hilltop. The Hawks also competed in several close games throughout the season, posting three losses by four or less points. The season began with a thrilling triple-overtime contest against Stonehill which saw several program records fall, including the most tackles in one game (128), the most field goals made (four) and the most overtimes (three). Senior Daniel Parisi booted those four field goals en route to Fred Mitchell Award Watch List honors during the year. Senior linebacker Eric Mercer captured All-League honors for the Hawks in 2017, highlighting a season that saw the team post a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Pace on Oct. 21. In that contest, the Hawks trailed by a game-high 14 points through the first 20 minutes of play and posted 29 second-half points to complete the comeback. Saint Anselm ranked in the top half of NE10 programs in rushing yards per game, kick return yardage, red zone touchdown percentage and total tackles. The Hawks also played a highly-disciplined style of football, averaging just shy of six penalties per game to rank second in the league. He earned his first-career win at Saint Anselm on Oct. 22, 2016 as the Hawks cruised past Pace by a 42-7 score at Grappone Stadium. Adam also led the Hawks to a 28-17 victory over Merrimack on Senior Day the following week. The Hawks finished his first season by leading the NE10 in passing yards per game (243.7), ranking third in time of possession (32:26), fourth in third-down conversions (41%) and fifth in points per game (22.9). In 2016, sophomore wide receiver Kyle Hill was a Second Team All-NE10 choice after leading the NE10 in receiving yards (1,091) and receiving yards per game (99.2), while quarterback Yianni Gavalas finished his undergraduate career as the program’s all-time leader in nearly every major passing category. Prior to coming to Saint Anselm, Adam served as the offensive line coach at Syracuse for two seasons. He helped coach an offense that ranked in the top 10 of the program’s past 50 seasons. His offensive line unit finished the season ranked in the top third of DI FBS teams in fewest sacks allowed. He also coached All-ACC selection and NFL free-agent signee Sean Hickey (New Orleans Saints). Prior to Syracuse, Adam spent eight seasons at Elmhurst College in Illinois, serving as the head coach for the 2013 season. Adam’s defense allowed 110 less yards per game than the year before. With Adam as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2012, the Bluejays earned their first conference championship in 22 years, qualifying for the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in program history.  Adam also spent time at Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State, winning two national titles with the Lakers including one in 2003 with then head coach Brian Kelly, now head coach at Notre Dame. Adam received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Grand Valley State. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Joe and Jessica.

Vance Thompson enters his first season as a member of the Saint Anselm College football coaching staff in 2026. He will serve as Offensive Line coach for the Hawks, bringing a wealth of experience across multiple levels of NCAA football. Thompson arrives on the Hilltop following a stint at the University of Maine, a NCAA Division I FCS program. During his time with the Black Bears, he served as the Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Offensive Analyst, and Video Coordinator. His primary responsibilities included coordinating all aspects of the video department, managing student assistants, and building position-specific film cutups to assist the Head Offensive Line coach in game preparation. Prior to his time at Maine, Thompson gained significant experience at Long Island University (FCS) as an Assistant Offensive Line Coach and Offensive Quality Control assistant. In this role, he was responsible for weekly opponent film breakdown, self-scout analysis, and the development of positional manuals and tests for the offensive line unit. He also spearheaded daily scout defense meetings to prepare the team for upcoming opponents. At the Division II level, Thompson served as the Offensive Line Coach at Lake Erie College from 2023 to 2024. He was instrumental in developing a position-specific manual and training progression for his unit and oversaw the program's Field Goal operations. Thompson’s coaching background also includes a period as a Graduate Assistant and Tight Ends Coach for the Storm from 2021 to 2023. Thompson began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, The University of Akron (FBS), where he served as a Student Assistant working with the offensive line and video departments. A 2015 graduate of Akron-Ellet High School, Thompson earned his undergraduate degree in Coaching Education from the University of Akron in 2020. He later received a Master of Arts in Professional Studies from Lake Erie College in 2023.

Bryan Walker enters his second season as the Running Backs Coach for the Saint Anselm College football program in 2026. Walker was promoted to his current role in May 2025 after a successful three-year tenure as a student assistant with the Hawks. In his first season overseeing the running backs, Walker's mentorship was instrumental in the development of a Second Team All-Conference selection. He is responsible for leading daily position meetings, installing offensive concepts, and implementing film study habits to enhance the football IQ of his unit. During his time as a student assistant from 2022 to 2025, Walker played a key role in the program's daily operations. He oversaw equipment management, ensuring all gear was organized and distributed efficiently for practices and game days, and maintained game-ready standards for all equipment used in competition. A 2025 graduate of Saint Anselm College, Walker earned his degree in Business Administration.

Chadd Braine wrapped up his seventh season as a member of the Saint Anselm College football team's staff in 2025 and serves as the Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Linebackers Coach. With his assistance in 2019, the Hawks recorded their first three-game winning streak in five seasons and had a single-season record 12 student-athletes earn Northeast-10 All-Conference honors. The Hawks played an arduous schedule in 2019, including three non-conference games - all Hawks opponents on the season combined to win 52 games, the strongest win total of any NE10 program's opponents. As the program's special teams coordinator, he has overseen and developed a unit that has made significant gains in several key statistics. Net punting, average kick-off return yardage, kick-off return defense and punt returns all saw dramatic improvements from 2018 to 2019. Most recently in 2019, the team averaged a program-record 21.9 yards per kick return, ranking in the top-50 programs in NCAA Division II. Additionally, the team tacked on an average of more than seven yards per punt between 2018 to 2019 and limited opponents to under 20 yards per kick return, moving from 156th in the country (2018) to 61st nationally (2019). Under Braine's supervision, Saint Anselm logged two punt return touchdowns, a kick return touchdown (first since 2012), a score off a blocked punt and another off a blocked field goal in 2019. The Hawks had previously logged a punt return touchdown during the 2015 season. Braine comes to the Hilltop after four seasons as the Defensive Coordinator for East Stroudsburg. With the Warriors in 2017, Braine mentored a defensive unit that led all divisions of NCAA college football in forced fumbles per game (3.09) while ranking second in fumble recoveries (23) and fifth nationally with 31 takeaways. Mentoring 10 All-Conference selections during his tenure, Braine recruited the state of New Jersey and directed the team’s youth and prospect camps. He was also the director of the “Be The Match” Bone Marrow Registry Drive and the institution’s annual “Breakfast with the Warriors”, hosting local youth organizations on campus. Braine also spent five years at William Paterson University from January 2008 through April 2013, finishing his stint with the Pioneers the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach. He coached several defensive units that ranked in the top-10 in NCAA Division III in pass defense, total defense and scoring defense. Prior to William Paterson, Braine was the Linebackers and Defensive Backs coach at the Michigan Technological Institute before his promotion to Defensive Coordinator in 2006. He has also served as a defensive coach at South Dakota and Ferrum. A four-year letterman in football that started 27 games at East Stroudsburg, Braine graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health with a certification in Physical Education in 1999 before achieving a master’s degree in Physical Education with a focus in Sport Management in 2001. The defensive back was a Second Team All-PSAC selection as a senior. A six-time letterman in indoor and outdoor track and field, he captained the team as a senior and was an all-conference selection in the 55M and the 100M, setting a school record at the time in the latter event.

Val Honorable finished his fourth season with the Saint Anselm College football program in 2025 and currently serves as the Defensive Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. Prior to joining the Hawks' staff, he served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Sonoran Sidewinders of the Hohokam Junior College Athletic Conference. With the Sidewinders, Honorable planned, organized and conducted all practices for the offensive unit and was responsible for the team’s offensive film sessions. He has also worked as the Assistant Football Coach at Empire High School and as the Defensive Coordinator at Palo Verde High Magnet School, both in Tucson, Ariz. Since August 2018, Honorable was employed as a Physical Education instructor at the Borman K-8 School. The 2016 graduate of Elmhurst was a four-year letter winner on the field for the Blue Jays, winning a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title in 2012. He went on to earn Second Team All-Conference honors as a free safety in 2014 and was a CCIW Preseason All-America selection in 2015. The recipient of a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Health and Coaching (K-12) from Elmhurst, Honorable resides in Manchester, N.H.

Trey McJunkin enters his third season as a member of the Saint Anselm College football coaching staff in 2026. After serving as the coach for the wide receivers and tight ends, McJunkin was promoted to additionally serve as the Special Teams Coordinator in May 2026. Since arriving on the Hilltop, McJunkin has been instrumental in the development of young talent within the Hawks' offense. During his tenure, he coached the team's Rookie of the Year at both the wide receiver/tight end position and the running back position. Prior to his current role, he served as the program's Running Backs Coach and Quality Control assistant from March 2024 to March 2025. McJunkin brought significant coaching experience to Saint Anselm from both the junior college and NCAA Division II levels. He previously served as the Passing Game Coordinator, Wide Receivers, and Returners Coach at the College of the Sequoias, where he mentored a First Team All-Conference wide receiver. He also spent time as a Graduate Assistant coach for linebackers at Fort Hays State University. A former collegiate student-athlete, McJunkin played football for six years, including five seasons as a quarterback and one as a tight end. This diverse playing background provides him with a unique perspective on offensive schematics and gameday operations. McJunkin earned his undergraduate degree in History from Fort Hays State University in 2021 before completing a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance at the same institution in 2023.

Todd Pelletier enters his fifth season with the Saint Anselm football team in 2024. Beginning his career on the Hilltop as the Assistant Linebackers Coach, he was named the team's Defensive Line Coach in July 2022. Pelletier comes to the Hilltop from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he assisted the Engineers football program for two seasons (2018, 2019). He served as the Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers Coach and the Defensive Run Game Coordinator, helping RPI post the 10th-ranked rushing yards allowed as a team during one campaign. He mentored five All-Liberty League student-athletes including one All-Region honoree. RPI was the winner of back-to-back Liberty League titles with Pelletier's assistance. He also served stints as an Assistant Coach at Plymouth State University, Williams College, the University of New Hampshire and the Maine Maritime Academy. As the linebackers coach at Plymouth State in 2016, Pelletier helped the program lead the country (across all divisions) in forced turnovers (40). Pelletier graduated from Springfield in 2009 with a degree in Movement and Sports Studies with a minor in Health Education.

Trenton Powell enters his first season as a member of the Saint Anselm College football coaching staff in 2026. He joins the Hawks following a tenure at Delta State University, where he served as a Defensive Graduate Assistant working with the defensive line and defensive backs. During his time at Delta State, Powell was part of a coaching staff that led a defense to top rankings in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) for both red zone defense and passing defense. His responsibilities included planning and executing individual periods for defensive ends, creating and installing weekly defensive game plans, and managing offensive scout team operations. He was also responsible for defensive film breakdowns and calling out personnel from the coaches' box on game days. Prior to his stint with the Statesmen, Powell spent over two years at the University of Southern Mississippi (FBS). Serving as a Student Assistant, he worked with the offensive line, tight ends, and outside linebackers. In 2022, he contributed to a Golden Eagles defense that led the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) in sacks and fourth-down stops while ranking second in interceptions. At Southern Miss, he assisted with individual drills, drew offensive scout cards, and prepared comprehensive weekly reports on depth charts, third-down efficiency, and opponent run/pass tendencies. A native of Bay Minette, Ala., Powell earned his Bachelor of Science in Sport Coaching with a minor in Strength and Conditioning from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2024. He went on to pursue a Master of Science in Sport & Human Performance with a concentration in Sports Management from Delta State University.