Trinity College Men's Football

Jeff Devanney begins his 20th season as head football coach at Trinity College in the fall of 2025. Trinity hired Devanney, a 1993 graduate of the College, as its 27th head coach in December of 2005  Prior to assuming the head coaching role, Devanney served as Trinity’s defensive coordinator in 2005, its special teams coordinator from 2001 to 2004, its secondary coach from 2002 to 2005, and its defensive line coach in 2001. The Bantams have outscored their opponents, 4,677-1,959, in his 19-year tenure as head coach. Last season, the Bantams registered a 7-2 record on the season, ranking second in the country in redzone offense, sixth in completion percentage (72.1), tenth in first down defense and 10th in passing efficiency (175.31). Trinity led the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in scoring offense (31.1), total offense (394.6), total yards (2,448), total touchdowns (36), passing yards (272.0), passing touchdowns (24), and ranked second in scoring defense (16.0). In the fall of 2022, Devanney led Trinity to its first ever 9-0 record to capture the NESCAC crown for the ninth time in program history and boast the most regular season wins in program history. In 2016, Trinity posted a perfect 8-0 record to win the NESCAC title, and the Bantams three-peated as NESCAC Champions with an 8-1 record in 2018 and 2017. In 2021, Devanney guided the Bantams to an eight-win season for the fourth time in the last six years and earned his 100th career victory.  Devanney has a 128-23 record as a head coach, including a perfect 9-0 record in 2022 and 8-0 records in 2008, 2012 and 2016, giving him the best winning percentage in the history of Trinity football at .847. The Bantams won or shared the NESCAC title from 2002 to 2005, in 2008 and 2012, from 2016 to 2018 and in 2022 and 2023. Devanney was honored as the NESCAC Coach of the Year in 2008, 2012, 2016 2018 and 2022, garnered the Gridiron Club’s Division II/III New England Coach of the Year award in 2012 and 2022, and added the 2022 New England Football Writers Division II/III Coach of the Year honor. He has seen 194 All-NESCAC selections from his teams the last 16 years including the NESCAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, the Defensive Player of the Year from 2010 to 2012 and again in 2016, Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and 2023 and the NESCAC Rookie of the Year five times since 2013. In Devanney’s 23 years on the Bantam staff, Trinity has been ranked No. 1 in total defense in the country five times and posted 29 shutouts. In 2022, Trinity led the nation with the least amount of first downs allowed (110) and ranked second nationally in rushing defense (49.1 ypg), ninth in scoring defense (10.9 ppg), and 14th in total defense (240.8 ypg).  In 2021, Trinity ranked fourth in the nation in red-zone defense and seventh nationally in offensive pass efficiency, while the Bantams were among the top five nationally in fewest first downs allowed in both 2019 and 2021.  The Bantams led the league and were ranked among the top 15 nationally in scoring defense, scoring offense, pass efficiency defense, and passing yards allowed in both 2017 and 2018.  In 2015, the Bantams ranked No. 1 in the nation in red-zone defense (.458), and Trinity led the country in kickoff return average with 28.1 yards per attempt in 2014.  In 2012, Trinity yielded NCAA Division III-lows of 195.5 yards per contest, 8.1 points per game, and 53.6 yards per game on the ground.  Trinity also led the nation statistically in rushing defense (63.5 ypg), total defense (195.5 g), and scoring defense (8.13 ppg) while posting four shutouts in 2011, and finished first in the nation in rushing defense (45.50 ypg) in 2010. In 2006, Trinity led the country in scoring defense and total defense. A star player in football and baseball for the Trinity, Devanney was voted the NESCAC Football Defensive Player of the Year in 1992. He appears among the College’s all-time leaders in punt returns and stolen bases in baseball. Devanney earned his master’s degree in liberal studies from SUNY-Albany in 1995.  Prior to Trinity, Devanney was the defensive coordinator at Central Connecticut State University from 1998-2000. He also served as a secondary coach at Georgia Tech and worked with the wide receivers and tight ends at Albany and Coast Guard.  A professor in the Trinity athletic department, Devanney and his wife, Michele, along with their children Shea (Trinity ’25), Caileb (University of New Brunswick ’28) and Sean (Avon Old Farms ’27), reside in Newington, CT.

Lewis Acquarulo begins his 31th season in college football, his 20th season as an assistant coach with the Bantams and his 19th as defensive coordinator in 2024. Acquarulo coaches the inside linebackers and also coordinates the kicking game. In 2011, Acquarulo was named as the New England Division II/III Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, after the Bantams boasted the top defense in all of NCAA Division III football. Last season, the Bantams captured a share of the NESCAC crown for the 11th time in program history, registering an 8-1 record on the season. As a team, Trinity ranked third in the country in redzone defense (.455), fourth in first-down defense, and sixth in rushing defense. The Bantams ranked 18th in total defense and 19th in scoring defense nationally. In his first year as defensive coordinator in 2006, the Bantams led the nation in scoring defense (6.8 points allowed per game) and total defense (160.0 yards allowed per game), and finished second nationally in pass efficiency defense (73.2 opponent efficiency rating). In 2007, the Trinity defense finished atop the league rankings in total defense, rushing defense, and sacks. Acquarulo’s rushing defense ranked 15th nationally in 2008 (86.88 yards/game) and Trinity allowed just 140 points to tie for first in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Trinity also finished sixth in the nation in rushing defense (68 ypg), fifth nationally in tackles for loss (9.38 per game), and second in the country in sacks (3.88 per game) that year. Trinity led the nation statistically in three different defensive categories in 2011, having allowed just 63.5 rushing yards per game, 195.5 total yards per game, and 8.13 points per game. The Navy & Gold also claimed third place nationally in tackles for loss with 9.0 per contest, while posting shutouts in four of its eight games. In 2012, Trinity yielded an NCAA Division III-low 195.5 yards per contest, and surrendered an NCAA Division III-low 8.1 points per game, allowed an NCAA Division III-low 53.6 yards per game on the ground, and posted an 84.68 defensive pass efficiency rating (4th in nation). In 2013, the Bantams allowed just 13.9 ppg (9th in nation), yielded 138 yards through the air per game (5th in nation), and held opponents to 254.8 yards per game (8th in nation) and an 80.8 pass efficiency rating (3rd in nation). In 2014, Trinity finished sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense with a 90.3 rating for opposing quarterbacks. In 2015, the Bantams ranked No. 1 in the nation in red-zone defense (.458), third in scoring defense (10.1 ppg allowed) and pass efficiency defense (87.05), ninth in total defense (253.3 ypg), and 10 nationally in rushing defense (90.3 ypg). In 2016, Trinity concluded the year ranked fourth nationally in first downs allowed, ninth in scoring defense, fifth in pass efficiency defense, sixth in sacks and 12th in total defense. The Bantams led the league and were ranked among the top 15 nationally in scoring defense, scoring offense, pass efficiency defense, and passing yards allowed in both 2017 and 2018.  The Bantam defense also led all of NCAA football with an average of just 3.2 yards allowed per play in 2018.  In 2019, Trinity finished 24th in the nation in total defense with a NESCAC-low 285.7 yards allowed, ranked fourth in the nation in red-zone defense. Trinity was among the top five nationally in fewest first downs allowed in both 2019 and 2021.  The Navy & Gold defense boasts 73 All-NESCAC defensive players in the last 14 years, including four NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year selections in Tyler Berry (2008), Walter Fallas (2009, 2010), Rae Haynes (2012), and Spencer Donahue (2016). Acquarulo arrived at Trinity in 2005 after serving as the defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator at the University of Rochester from 2001 to 2004. Prior to Rochester, Acquarulo coached the outside linebackers and special teams at the University of Pennsylvania for three years, linebackers and special teams at Southern Connecticut State University for two years, and the defensive line and linebackers at Union College. He was also the strength coach at both Southern Connecticut and Union. Acquarulo coordinates the Trinity football academic program, and is an associate professor in the College’s athletic department. Acquarulo earned a bachelor’s degree from Union, where he helped the football team win an Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship, earn two NCAA championship bids, and post undefeated seasons in 1991 and 1993 as a starting defensive lineman. Acquarulo was recognized by Union for outstanding team leadership with the Ronald F. Plumb Award at the conclusion of his playing career. He also holds a master’s degree from Trinity in American Studies.

Williams played for Youngstown State University where his team won the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship in 1997. An All-State running back at Cadiz High School and a 2012 inductee into the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame, Williams holds the schools record for rushing yards as well as several state records for track and field. Williams has also served as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Ashland University, and the receivers coach, offensive coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at Ohio Northern University. He was promoted to associate professor in the Trinity athletic department and has been a track and field assistant coach for the Bantams.

(Recruiting Area: Southeast USA) Matt Russell joined the Trinity College football staff in April of 2023 as its defensive line coach. Russell arrived at Trinity from Bryant University, where he was an assistant offensive line coach in 2022. From 2018-2021, he was the offensive line and tight ends coach at American International College. Russell began his coaching career at ASA College (N.Y.) before spending the following three spring seasons coaching the Lazio Ducks in Rome, Italy and coming back to the States in the fall to coach the running backs at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.  Originally from Florida, Russell played football at Hiram College in Ohio, where he earned a bachelor's degree with a double major in business management and political science and a minor in entrepreneurship.  Russell also owns a master's degree in business administration with a focus on analytics in football, specifically comparing NFL team victories versus players' salaries by position.

(Recruiting Area: New England, West Coast) Ricky Crayton enters his second season as an assistant coach for the Trinity College football team in the 2023 season.  Crayton will coach the Trinity running backs.  A 2018 graduate of Thomas College in Maine with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Crayton began his coaching career at New England Small College Athletic Conference rival Colby College as a defensive assistant in 2018.  He also served as a running backs and tight ends coach at Maine Maritime Academy in 2019, before coaching most recently at Norwich University.  Crayton coached the running backs and served as the Cadets' academic coordinator.  He was a successful recruiter at all his stops and helped organize both on-campus and virtual visits for high school students at Norwich.

Matt Klier joins the Trinity College football program as and assistant coach in 2023 and will coach the Trinity cornerbacks. Klier joined Trinity from Shepherd University, where he was a defensive graduate assistant since the summer of 2021. He helped the Ram's defense improve points per game (25.9 yds/g to 17.9 yds/g), rushing yards per game (117.9 yds/g to 85.2 yds/g) and the passing efficiency (136.2 yds/g to 124.6 yds/g). From 2020-21, Klier was the defensive intern at the University of Minnesota and initiated his coaching career as an analyst and youth assistant coach at Marshwood High School. Klier attended the College of the Holy Cross and was the football program's student assistant from 2017-2019. He assisted in creating scouting report materials for the defense, researched and prepared reports on trends and performance and helped run and setup recruiting camps and events.

Trinity College football team has announced the hiring of Tim Graham as an assistant coach responsible for the tight ends position in June of 2023.  Graham joins the Bantam coaching staff after three stints as a Division III wide receivers coach in Pennsylvania.  Most recently, Graham coached the receivers and managed the kickoff return unit at Dickinson College in 2021 and 2022.  He was the wide receivers coach at Misericordia University in 2020-21 and held the same position at his alma mater, Juniata College, in 2019-20.  Graham received his bachelor's degree from Juniata in strategic communication in 2019, where he was a four-year quarterback for the Eagles. 

Mark Melnitsky begins the 19th season as an assistant coach for the Bantams in 2024 and will serve as offensive coordinator for the 14th year. Melnitsky mentored Trinity’s tight ends and wide receivers as a graduate assistant in 1998 and 1999 and coached the Bantam offensive line since his return to Trinity in 2006. Last season, Melnitsky’s offense set new program records for pass attempts (322), pass completions (205), passing yards (2,776), passing touchdowns (33), passing yards per game (308.4), receptions per game (22.8), total offensive yards (4,337), offensive yards per game (481.9), points scored (399), and touchdowns scored (51). In the NESCAC, the Bantams led the conference in points per game (44.1), total offense and offensive efficiency (166.7). Quarterback Spencer Fetter set the program records for career passing yards (7,481) and passing touchdowns (80), while wide receiver Sean Clapp set single-season marks for receiving yards (1,169) and receiving touchdowns (14). Five Bantams earned NESCAC All-Conference selections, while Fetter was named co-Offensive Player of the Year, the sixth player in program history to be recognized with the award. Fetter and Clapp received New England Football Writers (NEFW) All-New England Team honors as well. Since taking over the reigns as offensive coordinator, the Bantams have earned four All-American selections (Austin Baiardi, Chris Simmons, Joe Magardino, Matt Porter), 15 D3football.com All-Region selections, 15 NEFW All-New England Team selections, two NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year selections (Spencer Fetter, Max Chipouras), six NESCAC Rookie of the Year selections, and 65 NESCAC All-Conference selections. The Bantams offense has led the NESCAC conference in scoring (seven times), touchdowns (six times), rushing touchdowns (six times), rushing offense (four times), passing offense (three times), and passing touchdowns (three times) since 2012. In 2012, The Bantams led the league and ranked seventh nationally in rushing, averaging 281 yards per game, while topping the league with 465 yards in total offense per game (2nd-most in College history), 35.1 ppg, and a 152.8 pass efficiency.  In 2016, Trinity paced the league with 38 total touchdowns and ranked No. 6 nationally in the red zone with a 91.4% conversion rate, while pacing the league in both scoring defense (10.6 ppg, 7th in nation) and scoring offense (34.6 ppg) and turnover margin (+1.50, 6th in nation) in 2017. Trinity topped the NESCAC in rushing (228 ypg), total offense (464.3 yards, 3rd-most in College history), scoring (36.0 ppg), and passing yards (2,120), while setting a new college record at 6.49 yards per play in 2018. The Bantams paced the league with 44 total touchdowns while earning 22 of those from the running game that year as well.  The Trinity offense led the league in touchdowns (39), passing yards per completion (18.7) and in pass efficiency (177.3) in 2019, and in pass efficiency (175.1) and total offense (286.6) in 2021. Since 2021, the Trinity offensive line has led the NESCAC in sacks allowed for three straight seasons, including a league-low four sacks allowed in 2023, the sixth-best mark in the country. The Bantam offensive line led the nation in sacks allowed (two) in 2006. Melnitsky was previously the offensive line coach at Fordham University in 2004 and 2005, and served as both the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Widener University in 2003 and Ursinus College in 2001 and 2002. Prior to Ursinus, Melnitsky served as an offensive line coach at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. He earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Hamilton College in 1997, where he was a four-year letterwinner at inside linebacker and captain as a senior, and added a master’s degree in American Studies from Trinity in 2009. Melnitsky is also an associate professor in the Trinity athletic department. He has two daughters, Charlotte and Julia, and resides in Avon.

(Recruiting Area: D.C., Long Island, Maryland) Denver Williams begins his 16th year on the Trinity staff as wide receivers coach in 2023 and boasts 20+ years of coaching experience at the Division II and III levels. He also serves as the team’s recruiting coordinator and handles the Bantam kick return and punt return units. Trinity wide receivers have received All-New England Small College Athletic Conference honors 19 times under Williams’ tutelage, including 15 in the last 11 seasons. Jonathan Girard '22 graduated as Trinity’s all-time leader in pass receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. Williams played for Youngstown State University where his team won the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship in 1997. An All-State running back at Cadiz High School and a 2012 inductee into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame, Williams holds the school’s record for rushing yards as well as several state records for track and field. Williams has also served as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Ashland University, and the receivers coach, offensive coordinator, and recruiting coordinator at Ohio Northern University. He is an associate professor in the Trinity athletic department and has been a track and field assistant coach for the Bantams.  Williams is a member of the Trinity Athletics Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Matthew Russell is in his third year with Trinity College as the Defensive Line Coach. His previous stops have included Bryant University in Rhode Island as the Assistant Offensive Line Coach where he was a part of a unit that produced 3 All Conference Selections on the Offensive Line and set program records for total offense and points per game. Previous to Bryant, Russell spent 4 seasons with American International College in Massachusetts as the Offensive Line Coach before transitioning to Tight Ends during his final season. Before that, Russell spent his seasons moving from the USA to Italy and back coaching at multiple colleges including ASA College and the University of St. Thomas (MN) in the fall and the Lazio Ducks in Rome, Italy in the spring.  Russell was a 4 year starter for Hiram College (OH) where he double majored in Business Management and Political Science while minoring in Entrepreneurship. He is originally from Cape Coral, Florida. 

(Recruiting Area: New England, West Coast) Chris Simmons begins his third season as a Trinity football assistant coach in 2023.  Simmons coaches the tight ends and is also responsible for recruiting in New England and on the West Coast.  Simmons graduated from Trinity College in 2018 with a degree in sociology.  A four-year starter on the Bantam offensive line, Simmons was the New England Small College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and an All-NESCAC First Team honoree three times while leading Trinity to back-to-back conference titles in 2016 and 2017. He was named to American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American Team as a senior.  Simmons joins the Trinity football staff after coaching the offensive line at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for two seasons.  Prior to RPI, Simmons coached the post-graduate team at Bridgton Academy in Maine. 

Melnitsky-coached offensive lineman have made the All-NESCAC Teams in the last 10 seasons. Melnitsky was previously the offensive line coach at Fordham University in 2004 and 2005, and served as both the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Widener University in 2003 and Ursinus College in 2001 and 2002. Prior to Ursinus, Melnitsky served as an assistant offensive line coach at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Melnitsky earned his bachelors degree in government from Hamilton College in 1997, where he was a four-year letterwinner at inside linebacker and captain as a senior, and added a masters degree in American Studies from Trinity in 2009.  Melnitsky is also an assistant professor in the Trinity athletic department.  He has two daughters, Charlotte and Julia, and resides in Avon.