West Liberty University Men's Football

Waialae was tabbed to serve as co-interim athletic director along with long-time head womens basketball coach Lynn Ullom on July 1, 2016 by WLU President Dr. Stephen Greiner.     A native of Hawaii, Waialae is one of only three Pacific Islanders currently working as an NCAA head football coach. A Small-College All-America quarterback at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) and a two-time MVP of the golf team, Waialae was inducted into the Dubuque Hall of Fame in 2008.     Waialae spent one year at Dubuque as offensive coordinator before heading overseas for a year as quarterback and offensive coordinator with the Munich Rangers of the German-American Football League. He served two years as offensive coordinator at Bethany (W.Va.) College before coming to West Liberty as an assistant football coach in 1992. He also spent several years as head mens golf coach.     The veteran head man has the distinction of earning conference Coach of the Year honors in two sports. Waialae was a two-time WVIAC Mens Golf Coach of the Year and led the golfers to eight straight NCAA Division II Tournament berths. He was also named 2009 WVIAC Football Coach of the Year after leading the Hilltoppers to a conference championship and Top 10 national ranking.     Waialae has been guiding WLUs football fortunes since 2005, posting a 67-55 (.549) overall record with a 53-39 (.576) conference mark. His teams have finished at or above .500 in league play nine times during his previous 11 seasons, highlighted by a five-year run of finishing first or second in the WVIAC.     The Hilltoppers have made their presence felt on the national stage during the Waialae Era. The 2009 and 2010 West Liberty teams led the nation in scoring and total offense the first time any NCAA Division II school had led the nation in those categories in consecutive seasons. The 2009 squad finished the year ranked No. 9 in the nation and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.     The team success under Waialae has been matched at the individual level. Ben Staggs won the 2009 Gene Upshaw Award as the nations top NCAA Division II lineman while Zach Amedro shattered several NCAA Division II passing records and was a 2-time runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy as National Player of the Year. In all, Waialae has coached 17 NCAA Division II All-Americans and 51 first-team All-Conference selections.     Roger and his wife, Karen, reside in Wheeling. They are the parents of three children Ryan, Laura and Kayla.       Roger Waialae   Year   School                        All          Conf. 2005     West Liberty              6-5             4-4 2006     West Liberty              7-4             4-3 2007     West Liberty              8-3             6-2 2008     West Liberty              7-4             6-2 2009     West Liberty            11-2             8-0 2010     West Liberty              7-3             6-2 2011     West Liberty            1-10             1-7 2012     West Liberty              6-5             4-4 2013     West Liberty              3-8             3-6 2014     West Liberty              6-5             6-4 2015     West Liberty              5-6             5-5 Totals                                 67-55          53-39 Return to Staff Roger Waialae Co-Interim Athletic Director / Head Football Coach     A key member of the West Liberty University athletic department for more than two decades, head football coach Roger Waialae was tabbed to serve as co-interim athletic director along with long-time head womens basketball coach Lynn Ullom on July 1, 2016 by WLU President Dr. Stephen Greiner.     A native of Hawaii, Waialae is one of only three Pacific Islanders currently working as an NCAA head football coach. A Small-College All-America quarterback at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) and a two-time MVP of the golf team, Waialae was inducted into the Dubuque Hall of Fame in 2008.     Waialae spent one year at Dubuque as offensive coordinator before heading overseas for a year as quarterback and offensive coordinator with the Munich Rangers of the German-American Football League. He served two years as offensive coordinator at Bethany (W.Va.) College before coming to West Liberty as an assistant football coach in 1992. He also spent several years as head mens golf coach.     The veteran head man has the distinction of earning conference Coach of the Year honors in two sports. Waialae was a two-time WVIAC Mens Golf Coach of the Year and led the golfers to eight straight NCAA Division II Tournament berths. He was also named 2009 WVIAC Football Coach of the Year after leading the Hilltoppers to a conference championship and Top 10 national ranking.     Waialae has been guiding WLUs football fortunes since 2005, posting a 67-55 (.549) overall record with a 53-39 (.576) conference mark. His teams have finished at or above .500 in league play nine times during his previous 11 seasons, highlighted by a five-year run of finishing first or second in the WVIAC.     The Hilltoppers have made their presence felt on the national stage during the Waialae Era. The 2009 and 2010 West Liberty teams led the nation in scoring and total offense the first time any NCAA Division II school had led the nation in those categories in consecutive seasons. The 2009 squad finished the year ranked No. 9 in the nation and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.     The team success under Waialae has been matched at the individual level. Ben Staggs won the 2009 Gene Upshaw Award as the nations top NCAA Division II lineman while Zach Amedro shattered several NCAA Division II passing records and was a 2-time runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy as National Player of the Year. In all, Waialae has coached 17 NCAA Division II All-Americans and 51 first-team All-Conference selections.     Roger and his wife, Karen, reside in Wheeling. They are the parents of three children Ryan, Laura and Kayla.       Roger Waialae   Year   School                        All          Conf. 2005     West Liberty              6-5             4-4 2006     West Liberty              7-4             4-3 2007     West Liberty              8-3             6-2 2008     West Liberty              7-4             6-2 2009     West Liberty            11-2             8-0 2010     West Liberty              7-3             6-2 2011     West Liberty            1-10             1-7 2012     West Liberty              6-5             4-4 2013     West Liberty              3-8             3-6 2014     West Liberty              6-5             6-4 2015     West Liberty              5-6             5-5 Totals                                 67-55          53-39 Return to Staff

Chad Salisbury was named the Head Football Coach at West Liberty University after building a distinguished career as one of NCAA Division II’s most respected offensive minds and quarterback developers. Salisbury brings extensive Division II coaching experience and a nationally recognized track record developing elite quarterbacks and high-powered offenses. He most recently completed his ninth season as offensive coordinator at California University of Pennsylvania, where he also spent eight seasons as quarterbacks coach while helping guide one of the most consistent and productive offensive units in the country. A proven offensive architect, Salisbury coached 10 All-PSAC West quarterbacks, including seven first-team selections, and mentored three PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year honorees: James Harris (2015), Noah Mitchell (2021), and Davis Black (2024). Under his direction, California consistently ranked among the conference’s elite, finishing in the top three in PSAC West passing offense in 13 of the last 15 seasons and leading the division in passing yards per game from 2010–2012. Salisbury’s offenses also found success on the national stage. California led NCAA Division II in scoring offense during the 2016 season, averaging 49.6 points per game, and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Playoffs. He also helped guide multiple postseason runs, including a trip to the NCAA Semifinals in 2009. Quarterback development has been a defining hallmark of Salisbury’s career. He developed Cal’s all-time leading passer in Noah Mitchell, who became the program’s first freshman starting quarterback in 15 years before earning PSAC West Freshman of the Year honors. Mitchell later claimed PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year recognition and finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and total offense. Most recently, Salisbury mentored Davis Black, who recorded the third-most total yards in a single season in school history in 2024 while accounting for 33 total touchdowns, earning PSAC West Athlete of the Year honors and becoming a Harlon Hill Trophy regional candidate. A former professional quarterback, Salisbury played eight seasons in the Arena Football League, providing a player-first perspective that emphasizes preparation, accountability, and offensive innovation. His coaching philosophy centers on excellence on the field, academic success, and meaningful engagement within the community. He and his wife Julie have two daughters, Braylin and Madelyn.

Monteroso kicks off his 12th season as the Hilltoppers defensive coordinator and will also be working with the linebackers. Monterosos defensive units have traditionally ranked among the nations Top 10 in 4th-Down Defense and will be looking to bounce back after an injury-riddled 2015 campaign. Defensive tackle Darnell Vickers was an All-Region pick and defensive back DAndre Muhammad earned All-MEC recognition last fall.     They joined a lengthy honor roll of defenders under Monteroso which includes Marco Ricchetti, who earned NCAA Division II All-America honors in 2012; 2010 All-American and WVIAC Defensive Player of the Year Clay Beeler; 2009 All-America DB Derrick Evans, who led the nation with 30 passes defended and 9 interceptions, and LB Nick Harding, a 3-time first-team All-WVIAC selection from 2007-09. Darren Banks, a 2008 West Liberty alum, was the only 3-time first-team All-American in WVIAC history.      Monteroso came to West Liberty following a two-year stint at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz. Before heading west, Monteroso had coached for seven seasons at Marietta (Ohio) College. Monteroso served as the Pioneers defensive coordinator for five years and was offensive coordinator in the other two seasons. Outside of football, Monteroso also was head coach of Mariettas lacrosse and womens golf teams.     A 1985 graduate of Occidental (Calif.) College, Monteroso began his coaching career working with the running backs and wide receivers at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He left Sul Ross to spend one season as quarterbacks coach at San Mateo (Calif.) State before accepting a position as wide receivers coach at East Tennessee State University. Monteroso left ETSU after three years to coach at his alma mater, spending two years as quarterbacks coach and two more as defensive backs coach at Occidental before accepting the Marietta job.     Jeff and his wife Cathy have two sons, Daniel and Michael, and a daughter, Claire. Daniel is a wide receiver at Purdue. Coach Monteroso earned his masters degree from East Tennessee State University in 1991.   Jeff Monteroso Defensive Coordinator Jeff Monteroso kicks off his 12th season as the Hilltoppers defensive coordinator and will also be working with the linebackers. Monterosos defensive units have traditionally ranked among the nations Top 10 in 4th-Down Defense and will be looking to bounce back after an injury-riddled 2015 campaign. Defensive tackle Darnell Vickers was an All-Region pick and defensive back DAndre Muhammad earned All-MEC recognition last fall.     They joined a lengthy honor roll of defenders under Monteroso which includes Marco Ricchetti, who earned NCAA Division II All-America honors in 2012; 2010 All-American and WVIAC Defensive Player of the Year Clay Beeler; 2009 All-America DB Derrick Evans, who led the nation with 30 passes defended and 9 interceptions, and LB Nick Harding, a 3-time first-team All-WVIAC selection from 2007-09. Darren Banks, a 2008 West Liberty alum, was the only 3-time first-team All-American in WVIAC history.      Monteroso came to West Liberty following a two-year stint at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz. Before heading west, Monteroso had coached for seven seasons at Marietta (Ohio) College. Monteroso served as the Pioneers defensive coordinator for five years and was offensive coordinator in the other two seasons. Outside of football, Monteroso also was head coach of Mariettas lacrosse and womens golf teams.     A 1985 graduate of Occidental (Calif.) College, Monteroso began his coaching career working with the running backs and wide receivers at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He left Sul Ross to spend one season as quarterbacks coach at San Mateo (Calif.) State before accepting a position as wide receivers coach at East Tennessee State University. Monteroso left ETSU after three years to coach at his alma mater, spending two years as quarterbacks coach and two more as defensive backs coach at Occidental before accepting the Marietta job.     Jeff and his wife Cathy have two sons, Daniel and Michael, and a daughter, Claire. Daniel is a wide receiver at Purdue. Coach Monteroso earned his masters degree from East Tennessee State University in 1991.  

Hopkins begins his 10th season as West Libertys offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator. The Hilltoppers offensive linemen struggled through an injury-riddled 2015 season but have collected numerous individual honors during Hopkins time on the sidelines.     A total of 20 offensive linemen have received some form of post-season recognition during Hopkins first nine years at West Liberty. The most decorated individual was Ben Staggs, a consensus NCAA Division II All-American who won the 2009 Gene Upshaw Award as the NCAA Division II Lineman of the Year and earned an invitation to the prestigious East-West Shrine Game. The 2010 team featured first-team All-Region selections Larry Wriedt at tackle and Nick Madia at center. Wriedt was a second-team NCAA Division II All-America selection.     Hopkins came to West Liberty in 2007 after two years as offensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Mansfield (Pa.) University. He had spent the 2004 season as offensive line coach at Tennessee-Martin and was a defensive line assistant at Temple in 2003. Hopkins broke into the college ranks at Millersville (Pa.), where he coached the offensive line and outside linebackers while serving as strength and conditioning coach from 2001-03.     Hopkins spent the spring and summer of 2006 in Innsbruck, Austria as a coach with the Swarco Raiders of the European Professional Football League. The Raiders won the Austrian Bowl Championship. Hopkins also traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands in the spring of 2010 to conduct a high school football clinic.      Hopkins split his collegiate playing career between Glenville State College and Bloomsburg (Pa.) University. He holds a bachelors in Psychology and a masters in Sport Management from Millersville. He is also a certified strength and fitness trainer.     Dan and his wife, Emily, reside in Triadelphia, W.Va. with their 1-year-old son, Everett.   Dan Hopkins Offensive Line Coach / Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Dan Hopkins begins his 10th season as West Libertys offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator. The Hilltoppers offensive linemen struggled through an injury-riddled 2015 season but have collected numerous individual honors during Hopkins time on the sidelines.     A total of 20 offensive linemen have received some form of post-season recognition during Hopkins first nine years at West Liberty. The most decorated individual was Ben Staggs, a consensus NCAA Division II All-American who won the 2009 Gene Upshaw Award as the NCAA Division II Lineman of the Year and earned an invitation to the prestigious East-West Shrine Game. The 2010 team featured first-team All-Region selections Larry Wriedt at tackle and Nick Madia at center. Wriedt was a second-team NCAA Division II All-America selection.     Hopkins came to West Liberty in 2007 after two years as offensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Mansfield (Pa.) University. He had spent the 2004 season as offensive line coach at Tennessee-Martin and was a defensive line assistant at Temple in 2003. Hopkins broke into the college ranks at Millersville (Pa.), where he coached the offensive line and outside linebackers while serving as strength and conditioning coach from 2001-03.     Hopkins spent the spring and summer of 2006 in Innsbruck, Austria as a coach with the Swarco Raiders of the European Professional Football League. The Raiders won the Austrian Bowl Championship. Hopkins also traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands in the spring of 2010 to conduct a high school football clinic.      Hopkins split his collegiate playing career between Glenville State College and Bloomsburg (Pa.) University. He holds a bachelors in Psychology and a masters in Sport Management from Millersville. He is also a certified strength and fitness trainer.     Dan and his wife, Emily, reside in Triadelphia, W.Va. with their 1-year-old son, Everett.  

Graduate Assistant Coach Cayden Keeler enters his second season on the West Liberty University football staff, where he coaches the tight ends and plays an integral role in game planning and development on offense. The Ripley, West Virginia native is a graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and competed for three seasons as a member of the Mountaineer football program. Keeler is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Leadership and Coaching at West Liberty. He is the son of Amanda and Shane Keeler.

Bryce Perkins joins the West Liberty University football staff as an offensive assistant coach, bringing a strong background in offensive line development, run-game coordination, and recruiting across multiple levels of collegiate football. Perkins comes to the Hilltopper program after a highly successful stint at Gettysburg College, where he served as Offensive Line Coach, Run Game Coordinator, and Recruiting Coordinator. Under his leadership, Gettysburg led its conference in rushing over the past two seasons, averaging 176.5 yards per game, while setting a school record for yards per carry (5.65) during the 2024 season — a mark that ranked 19th nationally in Division III. The Bullets’ rushing attack flourished under Perkins, producing 18 rushing touchdowns in 2024, a 50 percent increase from the previous season, and featuring the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011. His work also led to back-to-back First Team All-Centennial Conference running backs in 2024 and 2025, the first such achievement at the school since 2010–11. In the trenches, Perkins developed two All-Centennial Conference offensive linemen, marking the first time Gettysburg earned all-conference offensive line honors in consecutive seasons since 2015–16. His units significantly improved pass protection, reducing the sack rate from 2.30 to 1.20 per game and climbing from 161st to 50th nationally in Division III. Gettysburg also ranked 39th nationally in tackles for loss allowed per game during the 2025 season. In addition to his on-field responsibilities, Perkins oversaw offensive recruiting operations at Gettysburg, managing recruiting boards and communications while recruiting student-athletes from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and California. In November 2025, he also assumed interim head coaching duties, further expanding his leadership experience. Prior to Gettysburg, Perkins coached at Gannon University, where he worked with the tight ends and offensive line before being promoted to offensive line coach in January 2024. That season, Gannon produced three All-PSAC offensive linemen, the most in a single season in program history. Perkins began his coaching career as a football operations intern at California University of Pennsylvania. As a player, Perkins competed collegiately at Pennsylvania Western University (California, Pa.), where he earned College Football America Division II First Team Offensive Center honors in 2022, was a two-time First Team All-PSAC West selection, and served as a team captain. He was also a member of the National Football Foundation Honor Society. Perkins began his collegiate career at Towson University. Perkins’ blend of offensive line expertise, run-game innovation, and recruiting acumen adds valuable experience to the West Liberty football staff.

Jucqui Taylor joins the West Liberty University football staff as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Assistant, bringing a strong background in defensive coaching, special teams organization, and elite player development at the NCAA Division II level. Taylor comes to the Hilltopper program after serving as cornerbacks coach and assistant defensive backs coach at California University of Pennsylvania, where he helped guide one of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s most productive defenses. During the 2025 season, Cal ranked fourth in the PSAC in scoring defense (23.5 ppg) and fifth in total defense (341.6 ypg), while also finishing among the league leaders in takeaways, sacks, red zone defense, and defensive efficiency. In addition to his work with the secondary, Taylor played a key role in Cal’s special teams units, which ranked first in the PSAC in kickoff return average (27.9 yards) and third in punt return average (13.1 yards). The Vulcans advanced to the second round of the NCAA Super Region One playoffs during his tenure. Taylor has a proven track record of developing elite talent, highlighted by coaching defensive back Rashan Murray, a PSAC First-Team selection, D2CCA First-Team All-Region honoree, two-time All-American, and D2Football.com Elite 100 selection who later transferred to the University of Pittsburgh. His responsibilities at Cal included position-specific coaching, opponent film breakdown, practice planning, game planning assistance, and full management of special teams on game day. Taylor was also actively involved in recruiting, including transfer portal evaluations and on-campus recruiting operations. As a player, Taylor competed at both the Division III and Division II levels, beginning his collegiate career at Bethany College, where he was a two-year starter and ECAC Bowl participant, before transferring to Slippery Rock University. He was a member of Slippery Rock’s 2018 PSAC West Championship team that advanced to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. A native of Uniontown, Pa., Taylor earned bachelor’s degrees in Communication Media Studies from Bethany College and Communication with a focus in Digital Media from Slippery Rock University, where he was a Dean’s List honoree. He is AFCA Professional Development certified and is proficient in HUDL and multiple recruiting platforms. Taylor’s energy, defensive knowledge, and commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field make him a valuable addition to the Hilltopper football program.

Philip Hamilton brings more than 15 years of collegiate and high school coaching experience to West Liberty University as the Hilltoppers’ offensive coordinator, along with a proven track record of offensive production, quarterback development, and recruiting success. Hamilton joins West Liberty after a highly impactful tenure at Waynesburg University, where he served as Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator. In his first season directing the offense, Hamilton engineered significant year-over-year improvements across the board, increasing scoring from 17.5 to 24.1 points per game and boosting total offense by more than 50 yards per contest. Waynesburg also saw gains in rushing and passing production, time of possession, first downs, and yards per play, while producing the Presidents’ Athletic Conference’s leading rusher. Under Hamilton’s guidance, the Yellow Jackets achieved their highest two-year win total since 2014–15, and he coached a 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist while overseeing the program’s highest positional GPA among quarterbacks. His recruiting efforts resulted in a 50-plus student-athlete freshman class from seven states, with continued momentum into future recruiting cycles. Prior to Waynesburg, Hamilton spent five seasons at Saint Vincent College as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, where his offenses shattered more than 30 school records in a 45-game span. His units produced an All-American, multiple All-Region and All-PAC selections, and guided the program to its first postseason appearance in a decade with a berth in the 2021 ECAC Bowl. Hamilton also served as offensive coordinator at Clarion University, where his offenses produced All-Americans and All-PSAC performers, and at Greensburg Central Catholic High School, where his team averaged 32.8 points per game and reached the WPIAL playoffs. He began his collegiate coaching career at Stevenson University, helping build the Mustangs’ football program from its inception and contributing to an eight-win, postseason season in the program’s early years. A former quarterback at Saint Vincent College and a member of the school’s inaugural football team, Hamilton earned his bachelor’s degree in communications and was a member of the Communications National Honors Society. He is an active member of the American Football Coaches Association, a frequent clinic speaker, and has worked extensively in quarterback development through the Quarterback Factory, helping train players who have advanced to every level of football, including the NFL. Hamilton’s blend of offensive innovation, recruiting acumen, and commitment to academic success makes him a valuable addition to the Hilltopper football program.